Whatever
Happened To...
Heroin ring ‘dismantled’
with 13 so far sent to jailQuestion: What ever happened to Operation Island Pipeline, which resulted in the breakup of a heroin trafficking ring that imported the illegal drug from Mexico to Hawaii?
Answer: Officials say Operation Island Pipeline -- involving 13 federal, state and county agencies -- halted the flow of black tar heroin from Mexico through Hilo for statewide distribution.
The 13-month operation wrapped up in December with arrests on the Big Island, Oahu and the mainland. A total of 58 people were arrested: 42 on federal charges and 16 on state charges.
The operation is continuing in Mexico, said U.S. Customs Special Agent Michael Cox. He declined to release details.
Marshall Kanehailua, police acting lieutenant, said the heroin organization in Hawaii was "totally dismantled," and none have replaced it. Small amounts of heroin are trickling into the Big Island, but not in any organized manner, he said.
The drug organization operated for about four years, Cox said. In the final year, authorities seized 17 1/2 pounds of heroin and 3 pounds of cocaine, estimated to be only a portion of the total brought to Hawaii, Cox said. He estimated the drug sales generated $2 million and was sent to Mexico.
Among the 42 federal defendants, 13 pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms, Cox said.
Nine others arrested on federal charges also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Four illegal aliens were deported, and 16 suspects pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
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