25 People Charged in Illegal Fishing Investigation Operation River Raid

January 29, 2026
4:35 pm

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Imagine a massive federal sting operation busting 25 people for illegal fishing—poaching salmon and steelhead in Oregon's rivers under Operation River Raid. That's the headline-grabbing news from U.S. Attorney Eugene L., but here's the twist that should have every 2A advocate's radar pinging: among the charges are serious federal felonies like conspiracy, smuggling fish across state lines, and even money laundering from black-market sales. We're talking 10-year prison sentences and hefty fines, all under statutes that mirror the heavy-handed enforcement we see in ATF gun traces or straw purchaser crackdowns. The feds deployed undercover agents, surveillance drones, and even choppers to raid fishing spots, seizing coolers full of contraband fish and cash-stuffed boats. It's a textbook example of how alphabet agencies build RICO-style cases from seemingly minor infractions, escalating them into life-ruining federal beefs. Now, connect the dots to the Second Amendment community: this isn't about trout; it's a blueprint for Operation Wide Receiver 2.0 or any future gun grab. Illegal fishing? Try illegal firearm possession or unlicensed FFL dealings, and you've got the same playbook—informants flipping on buddies, asset forfeitures wiping out tackle boxes (or gun safes), and mandatory minimums crushing small-time operators. The 2A implications scream loud: when the government treats a fish fry like a cartel bust, what's stopping them from deploying the same zeal against your range day or private transfer? We've seen it with machine gun conversion devices or ghost guns; poachers today could foreshadow pistol brace owners tomorrow. Pro-2A folks, this is your wake-up call—support legislative firewalls like the PROTECT Act to curb federal overreach, because if they can turn river rats into felons, no one's AR build is safe from the next operation. The silver lining? Public outrage over these fishing felonies might erode trust in endless federal fishing expeditions (pun intended), paving the way for 2A wins in court. Stay vigilant, stock your go-box, and remember: in the war on liberty, they start with salmon, but they end at your door. Share this if you're ready to reel in the real threat.

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Imagine a massive federal sting operation busting 25 people for illegal fishing—poaching salmon and steelhead in Oregon’s rivers under Operation River Raid. That’s the headline-grabbing news from U.S. Attorney Eugene L., but here’s the twist that should have every 2A advocate’s radar pinging: among the charges are serious federal felonies like conspiracy, smuggling fish across state lines, and even money laundering from black-market sales. We’re talking 10-year prison sentences and hefty fines, all under statutes that mirror the heavy-handed enforcement we see in ATF gun traces or straw purchaser crackdowns. The feds deployed undercover agents, surveillance drones, and even choppers to raid fishing spots, seizing coolers full of contraband fish and cash-stuffed boats. It’s a textbook example of how alphabet agencies build RICO-style cases from seemingly minor infractions, escalating them into life-ruining federal beefs.

Now, connect the dots to the Second Amendment community: this isn’t about trout; it’s a blueprint for Operation Wide Receiver 2.0 or any future gun grab. Illegal fishing? Try illegal firearm possession or unlicensed FFL dealings, and you’ve got the same playbook—informants flipping on buddies, asset forfeitures wiping out tackle boxes (or gun safes), and mandatory minimums crushing small-time operators. The 2A implications scream loud: when the government treats a fish fry like a cartel bust, what’s stopping them from deploying the same zeal against your range day or private transfer? We’ve seen it with machine gun conversion devices or ghost guns; poachers today could foreshadow pistol brace owners tomorrow. Pro-2A folks, this is your wake-up call—support legislative firewalls like the PROTECT Act to curb federal overreach, because if they can turn river rats into felons, no one’s AR build is safe from the next operation.

The silver lining? Public outrage over these fishing felonies might erode trust in endless federal fishing expeditions (pun intended), paving the way for 2A wins in court. Stay vigilant, stock your go-box, and remember: in the war on liberty, they start with salmon, but they end at your door. Share this if you’re ready to reel in the real threat.

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