Attorney General Bill Lockyer Applauds Special Recognition of Sonya Arriaga-Barna

(SACRAMENTO) – Special Agent Supervisor Sonya Arriaga-Barna of the California Department of Justice will receive the Gil Pompa Special Recognition Aguila Award tonight presented by the Hispanic-American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) for her hard work and dedication as the Operations Commander for the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP).

CAMP is an intense, collaborative effort involving state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies working together under the direction of the California Department of Justice to identify and eradicate large illegal outdoor marijuana operations during the height of the growing season. Since its inception in 1983, CAMP has seized 2.6 million plants worth $9.1 billion. More than 900,000 plants have been seized in the last three years.

"I commend Special Agent Supervisor Arriaga-Barna for the work she has done with CAMP," Attorney General Bill Lockyer said. "Her hard work and determination has resulted in record amounts of illegal marijuana plants being taken out of circulation in California."

The HAPCOA Awards Committee of the Executive Board voted unanimously to award Special Agent Supervisor Arriaga-Barna. The award for leadership is named after Mr. Gil Pompa, a leader in the national Hispanic community and former National Director of the U.S. Justice Department, Community Relations Service. Pompa played a key role in the formation of HAPCOA and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).