Niu Valley Community Association

Communities Can Help in the War Against Ice

Jan 30, 2005

It was recently reported in an article on October 10, 2004 in the Honolulu Advertiser that almost every drug-enforcement category has already surpassed last year's numbers, according to Larry Burnett, director of the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a partnership of federal, state and county law-enforcement agencies.

The state attorney general's Nuisance Abatement Unit, using civil injunctions, has closed down at least six drug houses since it was formed last year. Keith Kamita, administrator of the state Narcotics Enforcement Division, said the war on ice is being accelerated with the help of community members who are taking the time to make reports to the police. Burnett agreed. "The information we're getting from the public now is more accurate then ever. It's a tremendous resource for law enforcement," he said. "The community is speaking out," Anderson said. "It's long overdue."

Burnett said the public is "primed and ready to help" and demanding that officials get on top of the ice problem. "I've never been stationed in a place like Hawai'i, where there is so much community involvement. I pray every day that this involvement doesn't go away, that there's just as much a year from now as right now."

Growing community awareness over the past year inspired a new level of involvement as citizens teamed up to wave signs on the side of the road, volunteered in treatment and drug education programs, and enlisted in neighborhood watches.
Crystal methamphetamine (ice) is the drug of choice in Hawaii and per capita, Hawaii has the highest population of ice users in the nation. Experts unanimously blame the high crime rate (mostly property crimes) in Hawaii on drugs.

High purity ice is readily available, and is commonly abused throughout the State. Ice abuse and associated violent crimes, continue to increase throughout the entire island state. Pound quantities of ice arrive from the southwest regions of the U.S. smuggled by couriers, by parcel services, and U.S. Postal Service. Local addicts can purchase ice from a variety of sources, since ounce dealers are abundant throughout the state.