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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0021.101 2002-2004 4oJNSY Os N,w~i Harry Kim PR" yu;~- Lawrence K. Mahuna Police Chief 1lnvor a; or: w,..~~ Harry S. Kubojiri ~rE of-Nt'~ Depun~ Police Chief County of Hawaii N March 5, 2004 POLICE DEPARTMENT 349 Kapiolani Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96920-3998 i7 s (808)935-3311 Fax (808)961-8869 0 ~ ~ ~ • ~ ~ - c~ TO JAMES Y. A KAKI, COUNCIL CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM CHARLES I, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF ACTING OLICE CHIEF _ SUBJECT FINAL REPORT Name of Grant Program: Statewide Marijuana Eradication State Department of the Attorney General Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Federal or State Grantor: Division County Grantee Department/Agency: County Police Department Grant No.: 01-DB-18 Amount of Grant: $202,000.00 Amount of County Match: $50,500.00 County Revenue & Expenditures Acct 010-201-5219.48 & 3304.77 Grant Period: March 1, 2002 -August 31, 2003 Goals: See attached Objectives: See attached Outcomes: See attached Comm. No. ~ ~ Ref. To: F L Ref. Date JNSY os Hq~ Harr}' Kim ~ Vic' Lawrence K. Mahuna A4rtvor Police Chief ~„~'.p Harry S. KubOjiri ~>e or~M•J+ L)epury Police Chief County of Hawaii POLICE DEPARTMENT 349 Kapiolani Street • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998 (808)935-3311 Fax (808)961-8869 September 22, 2003 Ms. Lari Koga Administrator Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division Department of the Attorney General 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 401 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Attention: Ms. Earline Yokoi, Criminal Justice Planning Specialist Dear Ms. Koga: Enclosed is the final progress report for the Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force grant, Project No. 01-DB-18 (March 1, 2003 to August 31, 2003). There were no equipment purchases made utilizing these grant funds. Should you require further information, please contact Lieutenant Norman Keamo of our Hilo Vice Section at (808) 961-2253. The assistance and support we continue to receive from your agency is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, LAWRENCE K. MAHUNA POLICE CHIEF C ARLES M. C AI, SSISTANT POLICE CHIEF ACTING POLICE CHIEF NK:if Enclosure ® Department of the Attorney General Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division PROGRESS REPORT Project No.: O1-DB-18 Project Title: Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force Agency: Hawaii Police Department Person Completing Report: Lieutenant Norman Keamo Phone: (808)961-2253 Project Period: 03-01-02 to 08-31-03 Report Period: 03-01-03 to 08-31-03 Date of Report: 09-17-03 Please address the following areas and attach the report to this form. A. Provide a brief description of the program. B. List each goal and objective, and describe the progress made towards achieving each of them. C. Describe the program activities to date. D. Report performance indicators that document the accomplishment of the objectives. If this is the final report, describe how the project impacted/improved the criminal justice system. E. Describe any problems encountered, how they impacted the program and how they were resolved. To Be Submitted Every 6 Months and at the End of the Project Period ^ rr/CPJAD #20 O1 /96 STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE PROJECT NO. 01-DB-18 PROGRESS REPORT MARCH 1, 2003-AUGUST 31, 2003 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: 1. The cultivation of high-grade marijuana continues in the County of Hawaii. An increase in marijuana cultivation activities have been noted, more so in the Puna, Ka'u, North and South Hilo, Harnakua and Kona districts. 2. The demand for "Hawaii-grown" marijuana continues to be steady by "dealers" and consumers. The Big Island continues to be the primary supplier to the rest of the State of Hawaii as well as the continental United States. 3. The program entails continued manual eradication methods that are currently the most effective means in reducing product availability. There were no herbicidal eradication missions conducted by our agency during this period. 4. Enforcement methods such as stake-outs, street level enforcement and execution of search warrant, as well as other enforcement efforts, were utilized and have led to the prosecution of those responsible for indoor/outdoor operations as well as those for distribution operations. 5. Law enforcement efforts led to the seizure and forfeiture of assets connected to the cultivation and distribution of several marijuana related investigations. 6. Continued training is provided to task force members in order to participate in our coordinated operations. This assures for the safety of our personnel, the quality of our investigations, the professional conduct during operations, and the standardization of work practices and use of equipment. 7. Hawaii County continues to participate in effective inter-agency and Statewide coordinated activities. Task force personnel travel to other counties providing manpower and resources for eradication missions. 8. Hawaii County police personnel, as well as representatives from various County, State and Federal law enforcement agencies, attend monthly task force meetings for the purpose of planning and coordinating inter-agency operations. STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE PROJECT NO. 01-DB-18 PAGE 2 B. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. The primary goal of the Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force is the suppression of the cultivation and/or distribution of marijuana, reducing product availability. With the financial support of this grant and coordinated efforts of the task force, Hawaii County is successfully working to achieve this goal. During the grant period, 20 Counter-Cannabis Field Operation (hereinafter referred to as CCFO) missions were conducted. Our personnel also assisted other law enforcement agencies throughout the state in their CCFO missions. 2. The following statistical data is for the period of March 1, 2003 to August 31, 2003: a. 2,055 marijuana plots were identified; b. 2 indoor marijuana cultivation operations were identified and investigated; c. 38,512 marijuana plants were eradicated; d. 11,118.46 grams of dried processed marijuana were recovered; e. 359 cannabis related cases were initiated and investigated; f. 251 arrests were made in marijuana related investigations; g. There were five firearms, $2,000.00 U.S. currency, and a 13' X 24' greenhouse seized for forfeiture during this period. 3. Other achievements were previously addressed in the Program Description narrative of this report. C. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: 1. During this reporting period, task force efforts were concentrated on marijuana eradication as well as locating and identifying persons cultivating marijuana. STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE ~ PROJECT NO. 01-DB-18 PAGE 3 a. On April 7, 2003, officers executed a search warrant at a residence located in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Subdivision in the District of Kau, Hawaii. Officers recovered 118 marijuana plants, 1.12 pounds of dried marijuana, a shotgun and marijuana growing paraphernalia. Officers arrested a 19-year-old male and a 22-year-old male. The 19-year-old was charged for all offenses. b. On June 23, 2003, a search warrant was executed at a residence located on 40"' Street, Orchidland Estates Subdivision, Pahoa, District of Puna, Hawaii. Officers arrested a 32-year-old male after officers recovered 22 marijuana plants on the outside of the residence, 2.2 pounds of dried marijuana, and fluorescent light, timer, and grow containers for an indoor grow on seedlings from within the house. c. On August 6, 2003, a consent search was obtained at a residence located off of the Kamaoa Road, Waiohinu, District of Kau, Hawaii. ~ Officers arrested a 27-year-old male after officers recovered 480 marijuana plants along with 3.1 pounds of dried processed marijuana, $2,000.00 in cash, three firearms, and a 13' X 24' greenhouse located in and around the male's property. The defendant will be prosecuted in Federal Court. 2. The Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force Grant has allowed task force officers to attend the following training during this reporting period: a. On April 15-17, 2003, four officers attended the DCE/SP conference in San Antonio, Texas. b. On July 28-31, 2003, ten officers attended the Basic Rappel Training Course in Hilo; D. OUTCOME/IMPACT INDICATORS: 1. Grant funds have enabled Hawaii County to continue a vigorous and pro-active eradication program resulting in arrests and seizures of assets. Our coordinated efforts have had a crippling effect on the marijuana industry in the State of Hawaii. STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE PROJECT NO. 01-DB-18 PAGE 4 2. Hawaii County has provided and received inter-agency assistance that resulted in several Statewide coordinated enforcement efforts, including stake-out operations, and search warrant operations and/or investigations. 3. Our personnel continue to receive the necessary training to keep us current on eradication and investigative techniques. Through coordinated efforts and frequent meetings, the task force has developed and maintained effective guidelines relative to reconnaissance and marijuana eradication missions and communication in the sharing of information. 4. In addition to our enforcement program, in response to numerous requests from the community, task force personnel continue to maintain a drug prevention and education program. The following drug awareness presentations were made during this reporting period: a. March 5, 2003 -LDS Mothers Society (15 persons in attendance); b. March 12, 2003 -Keaau Middle School, teachers Grades 6cn-8'n (60 teachers in attendance); c. March 15, 2003 -Hilo Medical Center, Continuing Medical Education (30 persons in attendance); d. April 9, 2003 -Keaau Community (125-150 persons in attendance), primary presentation by Laulima Hawaii; e. May 24, 2003 -Solutions 2003 Community Organization (approximately 300 people in attendance); f. June 6, 2003 -North Hawaii Drug Free Coalition (50-60 people in attendance); g. August 28, 2003 -YWCA of Hawaii Island (approximately 100 people in attendance). E. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED: 1. During the grant period a few members of the Hawaii County Council, who are against the marijuana eradication program, rigidly scrutinize the marijuana missions. The members tend to believe all noise complaints made by the public although we are complying with the standards they have placed upon us to STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE PROJECT NO. 01-DB-18 PAGE 5 minimize noise complaints. As a result, the Hawaii Police Department proposed a reduction in eradication missions during the off season but an increase in enforcement and eradication missions during the peak growing season. The constraints by the County Council have led to a lower number of plants eradicated. 2. Also during the grant period, we have had difficulty with manpower shortage for eradication missions. The shortage is another reason for the lower plant count. o,