Pubdate: Tue, 02 Mar 2004
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2004 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs
Author: Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?228 (Paraphernalia)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Pipecleaner (Operation Pipecleaner)

'OPERATION PIPECLEANER'

Officers Seize Stores' Drug Paraphernalia

Authorities Aim To Make Items Scarce

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The federal government is going on the offensive 
against drug paraphernalia, seizing pipes and other items from half a dozen 
stores in eastern North Carolina.

Federal prosecutors said Monday the searches and seizures are the first in 
a new campaign designed to make it harder to find materials that could 
entice teenagers to begin smoking marijuana.

"The distribution of drug paraphernalia is a federal felony," U.S. Attorney 
Frank Whitney said at a news conference in Raleigh. "If we can cut down on 
the demand for drugs, it will make our jobs easier."

Federal, state and local agents participated in Feb. 26 searches of four 
Wake County and two Wilmington businesses as part of "Operation 
Pipecleaner." They recovered decorative and brightly colored bongs, as well 
as "roach" clips and miniature spoons.

These kinds of items are defined in federal law as drug paraphernalia, and 
someone selling or trying to sell them can receive up to three years in 
prison, face fines and have ot forfeit the cited goods.

No charges have been filed against the owners or employees at the six 
stores, but criminal counts are possible. The investigation and operation 
are continuing, Whitney said.

Federal and local officials defended their campaign against retailers.

After years of continuing efforts to convict drug suppliers, Whitney said 
Washington asked that local U.S. attorney come up with ways to reduce the 
demand for drugs.

Marijuana is often labeled as a gateway drug because people who smoke it 
are many times more likely to use heavier drugs such as heroin and cocaine, 
according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In the past, much of the marijuana smoked in North Carolina was grown 
in-state. Now, more of the drug is coming aboard tractor-trailers from 
Mexico and Central America and contains higher amounts of marijuana's 
active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

"The marijuana of 2004 is not your parents' marijuana, if they experimented 
with it," Whitney said.

Keeping paraphernalia farther away from high-school or college students 
should help discourage experimentation, the operation coordinator said.

"The message is, 'The gateway is closed,'" Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul 
Newby said. "No more tickets will be sold."

In February 2003, federal authorities charged 55 people with trafficking in 
illegal drug paraphernalia in an investigation they said targeted the 
nation's biggest Internet distributors of bongs, crack pipes and other 
gear. At the time, White House drug czar John Walters said, "This is a 
devastating blow to the drug paraphernalia business."

Although Newby declined to discuss the specific stores in North Carolina 
that were searched, he said many outlets sell drug paraphernalia alongside 
skateboards and clothing.

Agents seized items at Buddha's Belly stores in Raleigh and Wilmington; 
Snap Dragons and the Rock 'n' Roll Outlet in Raleigh; Rock 'n' Roll Village 
in Clayton; and Expressions in Wilmington.

Drew Skidmore, the co-owner of Expressions, said the store talked to local 
law enforcement to ensure that their sales inventory was legal. He was 
surprised by the federal search.

"If they didn't want to us sell the stuff, they could have just sent us a 
letter," Skidmore said. The items Expressions sells are intended solely for 
tobacco or legal herbs, he said.

Skidmore questioned the point of singling out the six stores. "You can 
smoke illegal drugs out of any pipe in the world," he said.

Police can charge paraphernalia vendors in state court, but there is no 
specific count against paraphernalia sales.

A person who identified himself as the manager at Buddha's Belly said 
agents removed items from about 20 percent of his store but declined 
further comment. Attempts to reach the other businesses were not successful.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom