JRE #1340 – John Nores

This podcast delves into the often-overlooked world of game wardens and their confrontation with cartel-led marijuana grow operations in California. John Nores, a veteran game warden, shares his harrowing experiences, revealing the hidden war being waged within our forests and waterways. Provocative topics include cartel violence, environmental devastation, the dangers of illegal pesticides, and the complexities of law enforcement in a rapidly changing cannabis landscape. Underlying themes explore the importance of resource protection, the need for a unified approach to combating environmental crime, and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding public safety.

Major Topics

1. John Nores’ Journey from Traditional Game Warden to Cartel Combatant:
   • Nores’ initial focus on traditional game warden duties like checking fishing licenses and enforcing hunting regulations.
   • His first encounter with an illegal marijuana grow operation, highlighting the environmental devastation caused by cartels.
   • The evolution of his role as he recognized the need for a more proactive approach to combatting cartel activity.
   • The shift from traditional game warden training to specializing in tactical operations, including sniper training and wilderness survival skills.
2. The Environmental Devastation Caused by Cartel Grow Operations:
   • The widespread damage to waterways and wildlife habitats from illegal grow operations.
   • The use of banned pesticides, including carbofuran, a highly toxic substance that poses serious risks to human and animal health.
   • The consequences of water diversion, leading to the depletion of streams and the destruction of sensitive ecosystems.
   • The urgency of addressing the environmental damage caused by these operations and the need for comprehensive cleanup efforts.
3. The Hidden War in the Woods:
   • The prevalence of cartel-led marijuana grow operations in California and other states, particularly those with favorable growing conditions.
   • The high profitability of illegal marijuana production, fueling cartel violence and organized crime.
   • The use of sophisticated tactics by cartel members to avoid detection, including camouflage, specialized footwear, and even the use of decoy animal tracks.
   • The dangerous confrontation game wardens face, including armed standoffs, ambushes, and the use of anti-personnel devices like pungi pits.
4. The Impact on Wildlife and Resource Protection:
   • The diversion of game warden resources from traditional duties due to the escalating cartel grow problem.
   • The strain on game warden numbers and the “thin green line” concept, highlighting the need for more personnel and funding.
   • The challenges of combating wildlife trafficking, including the black market trade in endangered species like ivory and bear gallbladders.
   • The interconnectedness of environmental crime with other illicit activities like human trafficking, gunrunning, and drug production.
5. The Role of Law Enforcement in Combating Cartel Grow Operations:
   • The formation of specialized marijuana enforcement teams within law enforcement agencies.
   • The use of advanced tactics, canine units, and aerial surveillance to combat cartel operations.
   • The importance of collaboration between different law enforcement agencies, including federal, state, and local units.
   • The challenges of prosecution and deportation, particularly in states with lenient marijuana laws and a history of cartel corruption.
6. The Implications of Cannabis Legalization:
   • The unintended consequences of marijuana legalization in California, including a decrease in penalties for illegal grow operations.
   • The persistence of a black market for marijuana, fueled by the demand in states where it remains illegal.
   • The challenges of regulating the cannabis industry, including the need for stricter enforcement and effective testing protocols to address the issue of tainted products.
   • The potential for marijuana legalization to be a catalyst for environmental protection by reducing the profitability of cartel operations and allowing for tax revenue to be directed towards conservation efforts.
7. The Importance of Public Awareness and Education:
   • The need to educate the public about the environmental and public safety risks associated with illegal marijuana grow operations.
   • The role of conservationists, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts in reporting illegal activity and collaborating with law enforcement.
   • The importance of supporting law enforcement efforts to combat cartel activity and protect wildlife.
   • The potential for public awareness and advocacy to influence policy changes and increase funding for resource protection.

Memorable Quotes:

• “It’s almost crazy…the people of the higher ups that we’re in charge of trying to eradicate the grow up and take the cartel the guys down. What so their that was their job, was just handling that. It was just handling the the marijuana aspect of it. Right? Right. And the the armed cartel guys. So there was no 1 in place that was supposed to take care of the waterway? There wasn’t. That seems so crazy to me.” – John Nores highlights the disconnect between the focus on narcotics and the complete lack of attention to the environmental destruction.
• “We still have to check, you know, the night hunter. We still have to deal with commercial wildlife sales and all this, the ivory importation issue, and the wildlife trafficking that’s just blowing up. So we’re getting thinner and thinner and stretched further and further. Gaylord numbers aren’t growing very much anywhere in the country. Yet, the population and the impacts of people destroying wildlife, especially on this cartel front, just keep as masturbating.” – Nores emphasizes the growing burden on game wardens as they face multiple challenges with limited resources.
• “So, yeah, it is. It’s it’s nationwide. It’s not a California problem. And we made really really careful. Even though we’re talking about a team in California and Game Awards, we’re trying to tell a nationwide story because the nation needs to know.” – Nores underscores the widespread nature of the cartel grow problem and its impact on the entire country.
• “So this is this is something I I gotta stay on and I really appreciate you and what you stand for. Because of the message. I think just so many people don’t know. Yeah. I just think that’s a big part of it. It’s just they don’t know.” – Nores emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about the issue and the need for a broader understanding of the complexities involved.
• “And Ed said this, call the room. We were dialoguing earlier this week, and he said, you know, He’s kinda looked at things from the border and south and the issues coming in from the border, from the cartel front. He said, you know, now I’m getting into your book and I’m starting analyze what you’re you guys are fighting on the ground inside the borders in California and the rest of the country goes, it’s embedded now. I mean, it’s not like it’s just coming across. I mean, the enterprise is embedded here in the nation.” – Nores highlights the deep-rooted nature of the cartel problem in the United States and the need for a multi-faceted approach to addressing it.