The war on Hawaii's ice epidemic entered into a whole new area as the federal government Tuesday moved against store owners who sell users the tools of their addiction.Posted on 01/07/2004 12:57:09 PM PST by Justice
The war on Hawaii's ice epidemic entered into a whole new area as the federal government Tuesday moved against store owners who sell users the tools of their addiction.
KITV 4 News first documented the widespread sale of drug pipes at local stores last fall in an undercover camera investigation. The sales were out in the open because the state law against drug paraphernalia is too hard to use against stores. It turns out that federal prosecutors were doing a very similar investigation, but with much harsher consequences for the storeowners.
Last September, an undercover police officer bought a pipe, scale and lighter at Brudda's Market in Kalihi. On Tuesday, authorities arrested storeowner Yong Kim, 55.
The raid on Brudda's was one of 10 on small liquor or sundry stores from Waikiki to Waipahu. It is the first crackdown in years against people prosecutors say make it too easy to be an addict.
"For those of you in this state who are selling drug paraphernalia: this stops now," Hawaii's U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said.
He said the paraphernalia business flourished in the islands because of a state law, which essentially required drugs be found with along with the paraphernalia. That made it impossible to prosecute the storeowners, who denied knowing what the tools were for.
"The officers who conduct these types of investigations were frustrated," Kubo said.
That frustration ended Tuesday with the arrests of a number of storeowners and employees. During the months of investigation undercover agents had made a point of buying a pipe, torch and scale together and talking about ice or marijuana so the owner couldn't claim ignorance.
Prosecutors said after the highly publicized raids, other stores who continue to sell paraphernalia, will have even harsher consequences than those arrested Tuesday.
"You vendors out there will lose your inventory, your businesses, your homes, your cars and your bank accounts," Kubo said.
Kubo said some of the stores raided may still be seized, depending on what other evidence seized Tuesday turns up. However, he said his hope is that the fear of powerful federal punishment will scare most storeowners away from paraphernalia profits.
In all, six woman and four men were charged Tuesday. They're scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. Agents and police seized more than 2,600 pipes for ice, crack cocaine and marijuana along with 116 portable scales and 116 small torches. Prosecutors estimate the value of the seized merchandise at $45,000.
"We are sending the notice out and we are asking the public now to help us," Kubo said.
Of course---and it's not difficult to craft one's own pipe, bong, etc. The War On Paraphernalia is utter foolishness.
Next on the list - coffee cups!
Tight-*rsed wanker place-marker.
Drug paraphernalia?
Will this WOD insanity ever stop?
At least there's some justice, drug agents now working real jobs at Wal-Mart.
And how many more "crimes" like this are we going to have to create to help us "win the WOD"? :^)
Sadly, it seems like it's going to get a hell of lot worse before it gets any better. Look in the rearview mirror: that's your freedom you're leaving behind.
A primitive but effective crack and/or freebase pipe can be made out of an aluminum soda can and cigarette ash.
The War on Paraphenelia will need to go after those who vend sodas with great vigor!
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