NCJ Number
60043
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL INDICATES THAT APPROPRIATE ERADICATION PROCEDURES, PERSONNEL, AND MATERIALS WILL HELP RID HAWAII AND GUAM OF THEIR MARIJUANA PROBLEM.
Abstract
THE SELECT COMMITTE HELD 2 DAYS OF HEARINGS IN BOTH GUAM AND HAWAII TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH HAWAII IS USED AS A SHIPMENT POINT FOR NARCOTICS AND CRIME IN GUAM IS DRUG-RELATED. HAWAII RECEIVES A TREMENDOUS INFLUX OF TOURISTS AND TRAVELERS, BUT HAS NO STATE POLICE FORCE. HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THEREFORE, SERVES AS AN ATTRACTIVE LOCATION FOR DRUG SMUGGLING. ALTHOUGH EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT A SUBSTANTIAL ORGANIZED CRIME CONNECTION EXISTS FOR SMUGGLING ASIAN HEROIN THROUGH HAWAII, ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THIS DRUG IS SEIZED BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO OPEN EVERY CONTAINER MOVING THROUGH THE STATE. THE AMOUNT OF COCAINE CONFISCATED BY THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEARS 1976 AND 1977 SURPASSED THAT OF HEROIN. THE ILLICIT CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA IN HAWAII HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, WITH OVER 100 ACRES OF MARIJUANA PLANTED IN 1977. BETWEEN 50,000 AND 80,000 POUNDS ARE EXPORTED EACH YEAR FROM HAWAII COUNTY AND SOLD AT $1,500 TO $2,000 PER POUND. THIS ILLEGAL USE OF DRUGS HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH CRIME, WITH AT LEAST 50 PERCENT OF ALL ROBBERIES BEING DRUG RELATED. IN ADDITION, THE USE OF EXPLOSIVE TRAPS SET BY OFFENDERS TO GUARD DRUG CACHES IS A SERIOUS HAZARD FOR CITIZENS. STILL, THE PRESENCE OF THE DRUGS IS NOT AS CORRUPTING AS THE USE OF MILLIONS OF UNTAXED DOLLARS FROM DRUG SALES FOR FINANCING MORE SERIOUS CRIME. IMPROVED INSPECTIONS OF AIRCRAFT AND SHIPS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HAWAII AND GUAM. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)