COM 0314.077 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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k STATEWIDE NARCOTICS TASK FORCE DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT PAGE 2 The Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF), whose primary purpose is the interdiction of drugs at the airports and other entry points (i.e. private couriers, seaports, private mail services, U.S. mail), is a very important element in battling the continuing illicit drug problem in Hawaii. The "profiling" of drug smugglers is an important technique used by law enforcement to effect our interdiction efforts at the airports and courier services. The methods used to smuggle narcotics into, out of, and within the State of Hawaii ranges from using handcarry bags, luggage, packages, and personal body carry to the use of hollowed out items wherein the drugs are concealed. These methods are continuously changing, making law enforcement efforts more difficult. Because of this, it is necessary to train personnel on a continuous basis, keeping up with the ever changing trends. The profit to be made in drug trafficking is potentially high and because of these, some of these groups have invested money, time and effort to set up importing and distribution networks which are very sophisticated and well-organized. These networks filter down to the low level "street dealers," who often deal drugs to support their own habits, and are highly visible to the general public, as well as the police. There have been documented accounts or incidents that have taken place, whereby crimes of violence have occurred due to "territorial rights" friction between different organizations. Training of Police officers remains an essential component to narcotics interdiction efforts. Training of personnel will aid in the development of investigations which will lead to successful prosecutions of not only the drug trafficker, and/or the courier, but also the drug source. In the area of training, the Honolulu Police Department's Narcotics Vice Airport Detail continues to lead in this area through on-the-job training during joint HPD-outer island operations as well as classroom conference training. Airport investigations are often tedious and rely on the skills of a well-trained airport investigators in making observations which the officer can articulate to, which will lead to an arrest and/or drug seizure. It is believed that in ezcess of 97 percent of the illicit drugs used in Hawaii are smuggled into the state. It is also believed by all members of the SNTF that interdiction efforts directed at the state's various ports of entry are preferrable to enforcement of street level distribution and the inherent problems of same.