A significant law enforcement operation in the forested areas of northeast Georgia resulted in the arrest of 25 individuals residing illegally in the country, including several felons and a suspected cartel associate. This extensive, multi-agency effort spanned several days and led to the discovery of drugs, fugitives, and suspects concealed in isolated woodland areas.
Named “Southern Forest Trident,” the operation ran from May 1 to May 6, targeting regions across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It was spearheaded by the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations division, with collaboration from a variety of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
In Stephens County, Georgia, authorities implemented checkpoints and conducted rigorous patrols along secluded roads near forest service lands. The goal was to capture fugitives, disrupt drug trafficking activities, and identify individuals illegally residing in the United States.
The operation was a joint effort involving officers and investigators from the U.S. Forest Service, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force.
During Operation Southern Forest Trident, deputies and federal officers engaged with numerous individuals as part of a comprehensive law enforcement strategy in northeast Georgia.
DHS arrested 25 illegal immigrants in Stephens County, including 14 with prior felony convictions, officials said. Authorities also identified one suspect as a confirmed cartel member.
One of the most dramatic moments of the operation unfolded Tuesday afternoon when two individuals bailed from a traffic stop on Highway 365 near Rock Road and fled into wooded terrain, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office said.
Law enforcement launched a large-scale manhunt involving multiple agencies and K-9 units, including U.S. Forest Service K-9 teams, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Bane and Stephens County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Taz.
Authorities conduct nighttime traffic enforcement during a multi-agency forest crime crackdown operation. (Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia Facebook)
Hours later, officers captured one of the suspects near Trestle Ridge Road.
Authorities identified the man as 31-year-old Minton Carreto, who officials said was wanted in the metro Atlanta area and illegally residing in the United States. The second suspect remains at large and is believed to have escaped the area entirely.
Investigators also made multiple drug arrests during traffic stops throughout the operation, including suspects accused of possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and oxycodone.
Authorities said Victor Pena, 42, of Cornelia, and Kristen Sloan, 33, of Maysville, were arrested after deputies allegedly discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop.
Authorities searched dense forest terrain after suspects fled from a traffic stop in Stephens County, Georgia. (Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia Facebook)
Mark Justice, 48, of Eastanollee, and Rebecca Wood, 30, of Toccoa, were also arrested after officers allegedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana and a glass smoking pipe inside a vehicle. Justice was additionally wanted on an outstanding Stephens County warrant, authorities said.
Investigators also arrested Dakoda Ponder, 29, of Toccoa, after deputies allegedly found cocaine and a suspected oxycodone pill during a traffic stop before he was additionally charged with DUI.
U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers participate in a multi-state criminal interdiction operation in Georgia forest lands. (Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia Facebook)
Another arrest during the operation involved Christian Villagomez, 29, of Clarkesville, who authorities said was taken into custody on outstanding fishing violation warrants.
By the end of the operation, the U.S. Forest Service had issued 33 federal citations ranging from traffic offenses to drug violations, and Georgia State Patrol issued 58 warnings and 36 traffic citations, while Georgia DNR officers handed out multiple hunting and fishing citations, according to the sheriff’s office.
Police vehicles and federal officers stage along a highway during a major forest crime crackdown in northeast Georgia. (Stephens County Sheriff’s Office – Georgia Facebook)
Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright praised the coordinated operation and warned that isolated forest regions can become hot spots for criminal activity if left unchecked.
“Many of these areas aren’t frequently patrolled in most counties, and crime can go unnoticed,” Fulbright said in a statement. “This behavior affects our families, as well as our social and physical environments.”
Fulbright said authorities remain committed to aggressive criminal interdiction efforts in rural northeast Georgia.
“We are proud to work with our federal and state partners to curb the flow of illegal drugs and other crime in Stephens County,” he said. “We are working to create a safer, stronger Stephens.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Forest Service and DHS for comment.