Pubdate: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Contact: 2003 West Hawaii Today Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Author: Tiffany Edwards, West Hawaii Today Note: To read about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii . JOINT OPERATION NETS 50 DRUG INDICTMENTS Mahuna Hails New Wiretap Laws For Success Of Mission HILO - Taking advantage of federal wiretapping laws, local, state and federal agents joined forces to dismantle five drug - trafficking organizations on Oahu and the Big Island last week. A list of state and federal agents assisted the Hawaii County Police Department in executing 20 search warrants on the Big Island alone last Tuesday. The mission, which they punned "Operation Shave Ice," resulted in arrest warrants for 20 residents, including 10 in West Hawaii. Authorities say a total of 50 residents in Hawaii, California and Arizona were associated with five drug - trafficking organizations that brought to Oahu and the Big Island "pounds and pounds and pounds" of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," and cocaine. Exactly how many pounds of drugs suspected to have been delivered here were not provided Friday when details of Operation Shave Ice were shared with the media. Hawaii County Assistant Police Chief Thomas Hickcox said federal authorities would be making that determination. U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo, who called an Oahu press conference Friday afternoon to detail Operation Shave Ice, alleged that on at least one occasion drug - trafficking suspects brought to Hawaii 40 pounds of ice. He said that the drugs came from California, Nevada and Arizona via airlines, ships and the mail. Referring to three out of five of the suspected drug - trafficking organizations, Kubo said the Marvin Postadan Group allegedly imported to Hawaii from Los Angeles about 20 to 30 pounds of cocaine and at least four pounds of ice per month. The William Totten Group allegedly imported to Hawaii from Phoenix approximately 40 pounds of ice per month, and sent approximately $70,000 to $100,000 weekly to the mainland to pay for ice to be sent to Hawaii. The Shane Tom Group allegedly used the airlines to bring "multi - pounds" of ice to Hawaii from Las Vegas, he said. Authorities did not identify with which drug - trafficking organizations the Big Island residents were allegedly associated. Kubo and Hawaii County Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna credited federal wiretapping laws for being able to dismantle the groups. "This case shows that the federal wiretap laws can and will protect our citizens from those who dare to import or distribute ice to our people," Kubo said. "And this is a very effective law enforcement tool which has been approved of by our federal courts." Kubo has been trying to persuade state legislators to adopt wiretap laws, and he made that pitch again Friday during the press conference, saying, "I only hope that someday the state of Hawaii will also have an adequate state wiretap law which will also protect our citizens from these organizations distributing ice to our citizens." Mahuna said the authorities involved in Operation Shave Ice were more effective in identifying and dismantling the members of the drug - trafficking organizations by using federal wire tapping laws and "state - of - - the - art wiretapping equipment." The local, state and federal agents involved in the operation are part of the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Group, which is a joint law enforcement task force that has overtime and equipment paid for through federal grants. Assisting Hawaii County Police Department in Tuesday's searches and arrests were representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Hawaii National Guard; U.S. Coast Guard; Hawaii Air National Guard; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Honolulu Police Department. The last time local, state and federal agents joined forces was nearly two years ago when 95 officers worked to dismantle a heroin ring with distribution centers on Oahu and the Big Island. "Operation Island Pipeline" resulted in 18 raids here and on Oahu, and the arrest of 53 people, including 25 Big Island residents. The name of the operation denoted the stream of money and drugs that were said to have gone back and forth between Hawaii and Mexico. Authorities involved in Operation Island Pipeline said $166,000 in cash, 20 pounds of heroin - with a street value of $1.6 million - and a pound of marijuana were seized. Those involved were charged in either state or federal court, or both. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk