‘Ice’ fight succeeding,
officials saySen. Inouye says he will seek
more funds for the Big Isle's efforts
KAILUA-KONA >> The fight against crystal methamphetamine is a work in progress, but the effort is yielding results, Big Island authorities told U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye yesterday.
Detective Derrik Diego, West Hawaii Ice Task Force leader, and county Prosecutor Jay Kimura said $4.4 million in federal funding secured by the senator is being used in a three-pronged effort -- treatment, prevention and enforcement programs -- to combat the drug known as ice.
The goal is to identify, target, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute street-level to upper-level drug trafficking organizations that primarily promote ice, Diego said.
Inouye said he was impressed by the efforts on the Big Island and would continue to seek more federal funding.
"Whenever the community gets involved, you're on the right track," he said. "This is money well spent."
The county's initiative is becoming a model for other communities facing the same battle, he said.
The county's ice hot lines have been instrumental in driving open street dealing underground and causing the price of the drug to double, Diego said.
Police report they have recovered 6.5 pounds of ice with a street value of $295,000, 170 grams of cocaine and 58 grams of heroin since May 2003.
They have made 1,444 arrests, leading to more than three dozen federal cases.
More than 180 search warrants have been served, and at least 26 homes have been raided. Four vehicles, 68 firearms and nearly $170,000 in cash have been seized.
Separate task forces have been set up on each side of the Big Island. Officers will be added to each task force as money becomes available.
Among the programs still being implemented is an airport interdiction unit, which will target Kona International Airport, harbors and the U.S. Postal Service, to intercept drugs being smuggled into the state.
Also, a juvenile drug court is planned for the Kau district, which will be able to serve up to 40 adolescents annually.
Drug court accepts nonviolent offenders with substance abuse problems who volunteer for rehabilitation.
Kimura said communication between county, state and federal agencies is improving.
The FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency now have permanently staffed offices on the Big Island.
The U.S. attorney's office also might soon have a presence on the island, Kimura said.