Statement
Of
Charles L. Goodwin
Special Agent In Charge - Honolulu Division
Federal Bureau Of
Investigation
Before The
House Government Reform Subcommittee On
Criminal Justice, Drug Policy,
And Human Resources
August 2, 2004
Good morning Chairman Souder and members of the Committee. Thank you for inviting
me here today to speak to you on the problem of crystal methamphetamine
trafficking and abuse in Hawaii. I also appreciate the opportunity to comment
on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's efforts in partnership with other
federal government agencies and state and local authorities to address
the battle against drugs and crystal methamphetamine in Hawaii.
Introduction
First,
I want to emphasize that the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) remains committed to fighting the fight against
illegal drugs in Hawaii and working with you to put the
drug trafficking organizations out of business. As you
are all aware through law enforcement reports and the
news media, crystal methamphetamine continues to rank
as the most widely abused illicit drug in Hawaii. Much
of the crystal methamphetamine abuse in Hawaii is attributed
to the drug trafficking organizations which have strong
ties to both domestic and international organized crime
enterprises.
Although the FBI Honolulu Division continues to investigate drug trafficking
organizations using the Enterprise Theory of Investigation- that is, to
seek the dismantlement of the entire criminal organization and not just
individual members, we are doing so with a lot less manpower resources.
After September 11, 2001, the FBI, with the blessing of Congress, reallocated
several hundred Special Agents working drug investigations to counterterrorism
and other investigative programs. This decision was done clearly out of
necessity, and it provided the Counterterrorism Program with some of the
best investigators in the FBI. In response to this move, the FBI Drug Program
bolstered its presence in Hawaii on the High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area (HIDTA), Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and
other joint task forces as a force-multiplier.
Part of the reasoning behind the reallocation of FBI drug investigative resources
was the realization that there are thousands of other highly committed, experienced,
state and local law enforcement officials engaged in drug investigations. At
the federal level, the DEA, ICE, IRS, ATF, and U.S. Coast Guard are all valuable
assets in the war on drugs. The FBI, however, is not abdicating its commitment
to drug investigations. In the meantime, the FBI continues to concentrate the
vast majority of our FBI drug agents on dismantling the largest drug trafficking
organizations and criminal enterprises, those identified in the Attorney General's
list of 41 Consolidated Priority Organization Targets. We also remain committed
to the national programs -- OCDETF and HIDTA -- as well as major joint intelligence
efforts in Hawaii. Bottom line: the FBI remains committed to working with you
in this fight against illegal drugs.
Crystal
Methamphetamine in Hawaii - Trends and Abuses
Crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, is the drug of choice in Hawaii.
The sale, use and transportation of crystal methamphetamine in Hawaii has had
a devastating impact on all of Hawaiian society. As we all are acutely aware,
crystal methamphetamine tears away at the inner fabric of Hawaii. Crystal methamphetamine
brings violence to our streets. Crystal methamphetamine wastes young lives
and wreaks havoc on families. Crystal methamphetamine saps millions of dollars
out of our economy every year. Crystal methamphetamine drains the resources
of our criminal justice and health care systems. And drugs such as crystal
methamphetamine make criminal enterprises across the country and around the
world -- richer, stronger, and more formidable.
The specific statistics on how crystal methamphetamine
affects the overall crime issues is staggering.
An estimated 90 percent of property crime in Hawaii
is believed to be drug-related. In addition, many homicides and other violent
crimes, including hostage situations, have been associated with crystal methamphetamine.
In 2002, U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo stated that crystal methamphetamine had been
associated with over 90 percent of confirmed child abuse cases. Recently,
news
articles in Hawaii have reported that assaults on police officers have increased
fivefold over the past five years and that the violence associated with crystal
methamphetamine abuse is a contributing factor to that increase.
The wide-spread use of crystal methamphetamine has also deeply hurt
the economy and social image of Hawaii. Several studies done by universities
have reported
that Hawaii authorities spend close to half a billion dollars per year on
corrections, education, counseling , and other related programs relative
to the crystal
methamphetamine problem. News reports have noted that there are as many as
30,000 crystal methamphetamine users in Hawaii who spend between $540 million
to 1.8 billion annually based on a $50 to $170 per day habit. In addition,
the crystal methamphetamine also has a negative impact on the natural environment
in Hawaii. Many researchers believe that the manufacturing and usage of crystal
methamphetamine may be having a detrimental impact on the environment.
Crystal Methamphetamine in Hawaii - Deeper Ties
to International & Organized
Crime Connections
Here
in Hawaii, the problems with crystal methamphetamine
transcends beyond the typical street dealer. The FBI
in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies has
determined that the crystal methamphetamine problems
extend to international boundaries and strong organized
crime connections. For example, in Hawaii, traditional
Asian criminal organizations distributed crystal methamphetamine.
Lately, Mexican drug trafficking organizations and other
criminal organizations are becoming increasingly more
involved in the production and distribution of crystal
methamphetamine.
Recent
law enforcement reports indicate that most of the crystal
methamphetamine in Hawaii appears to be produced in Mexico
and California. Mexican drug trafficking organizations
transport crystal methamphetamine to Honolulu, Maui and
other Hawaiian counties via California and to a lesser
extent Las Vegas. Some Asian drug trafficking organizations,
such as Filipino, Vietnamese, and Korean, transport crystal
methamphetamine to Hawaii via Canada and California to
avoid strict Customs and Border Patrol inspections conducted
at Hawaii ports of entry such as the Honolulu International
Airport (HIA). Hawaii law enforcement estimates that
approximately 80-90 percent of the crystal methamphetamine
seized in Hawaii is smuggled through the HIA via mailed
parcels and couriers on commercial flights.
Once
the crystal methamphetamine is successfully smuggled
into Hawaii, the local drug trafficking organizations
generally distribute the drug throughout the islands
via independent distributors. Some of these distribution
sites may be local night clubs or simply street corners
or beach-front sites. However, the line between the international
drug traffickers and the local Hawaiian drug traffickers
is becoming more blurred as the locals are participating
in more complex international operations. Some of the
local, as well as the international drug trafficking
organizations, are expanding their drug business to other
U.S. territories such as Guam and Saipan. The FBI, with
resident agencies in Guam and Saipan, bolstered its resources
to fight the spread of the crystal methamphetamine traffickers
in these islands.
To address these international, domestic, and organized crime connections,
the FBI developed the FBI Drug Program Plan (DPP). The FBI DPP is designed
to dismantle and disrupt Drug Trafficking Criminal Enterprises (DTCE) which
pose the greatest threats to the economic and national security of the
United States. Specifically, the FBI and its partner agencies in Hawaii
are attempting to identify the primary targets and crystal methamphetamine-related
organizations involved in the manufacture and distribution of this drug.
These goals will be accomplished through task forces and other joint initiatives
with other agencies.
Multi-Jurisdictional
Approach and the Use of Sophisticated Techniques to Fight
the Crystal Methamphetamine Problem
In
support of the FBI's DP to disrupt and dismantle the
DTCEs, the FBI Honolulu Division utilizes a multi-jurisdiction,
interagency approach to its investigations. Coordination
with other law enforcement agencies, especially the DEA,
is vital to the success of the federal counter-drug effort.
In cooperation with other agencies, the FBI will also
utilize the following sophisticated investigative techniques
and strategies to fight illegal drugs:
(1)
Direct appropriate investigative and analytical resources
to address the threats posed by priority targets;
(2) Encourage the use of Title III's, criminal pen registers, and subpoenas;
(3) Encourage the use of complex undercover operations;
(4) Maximize the use of specialized drug intelligence sources to fully develop
investigations of drug trafficking enterprises;
(5) Consult with respective counterparts in DEA to confirm investigative efforts
are not being duplicated and to identify opportunities for joint initiatives
and investigations;
(6) Ensure appropriate deconfliction through shared databases such as DRUGX;
(7) Ensure initiation and coordination of multi-jurisdictional investigations
through office leads and referrals;
(8) Ensure investigations are initiated against priority targets posing the
greatest threat to the Honolulu Division, and which are multi-jurisdictional
and of regional/and or national significance and influence; and
(9) Actively participate in ad hoc task forces High Intensity Drug Trafficking
Area (HIDTA) initiatives.
Besides the sophisticated techniques listed above, the FBI in cooperation
with other partners continues to work closely with the Hawaiian communities
through programs such as the U.S. Department of Justice initiative "Weed
and Seed". The Weed and Seed Program is designed to support the community
involvement in the fight against illegal drugs. The Weed and Seed program
is a multi-faceted proactive approach to fight crime by weeding out the
criminal element and seeding the community with services that support the
neighborhood revitalization. Because of the program's success, the Hawaii
HIDTA is joining forces with the Honolulu Weed and Seed. Through this cooperation,
the HIDTA hopes to reduce the harmful consequences associated with crystal
methamphetamine.
Task
Force Approach in Action: OCDETF and HIDTA
Pursuant
to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF),
the FBI has joined forces with other federal government
and local agencies through HIDTA to investigate and neutralize
drug trafficking in Hawaii. OCDETF and HIDTA permit law
enforcement to use a multi-faceted approach to cull various
expertise and resources to the table to address the drug
problems. With the expertise and knowledge of ICE officials,
IRS officials, ATF officials, DEA officials, Customs
and Border Protection (BCP) officials, local/state police,
and the FBI, a full throttle attack on drugs has become
commonplace in Hawaii.
FBI
Honolulu Special Agents are collocated with other agents
in HIDTA to address the drug problems in Hawaii in a
timely and accurate fashion. As a result of this close
cooperation, law enforcement has been very successful
in carrying out its mission to arrest and neutralize
drug trafficking organizations in Hawaii. For example,
in October of 2003 under the codename "Operation
Shave Ice", law enforcement arrested nearly 60 people
on drug charges in Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, Las
Vegas, Nevada, Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix,
Arizona. The arrests and searches of businesses and homes
were a coordinated effort by federal, state, and local
law enforcement officers in the war on crystal methamphetamine.
Operation Shave Ice, an OCDETF investigation, dismantled
five loosely affiliated crystal methamphetamine rings
in Hawaii. U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo for the District of
Hawaii noted that Operation Shave Ice ranked among the
top 10 drug ring shutdowns in Hawaii history. Over $200,000
from the ring was confiscated with 12 firearms. The arrests
also revealed a complex import system that used commercial
airliners, shipping companies and the U.S. Postal Service.
Expansion
in the FBI's Intelligence Component
In
addition to the multi-jurisdictional approach as evidenced
by the FBI's participation in HIDTA, the FBI will enhance
its intelligence sharing efforts to enable it to more
effectively target and pursue these drug trafficking
organizations. The FBI realizes that to dismantle the
most significant DTCEs requires an intelligence capability
which can accomplish the following: identify existing
or emerging drug activities, determine associations between
individuals and groups engaged in drug trafficking, and
provide strategic intelligence in support of drug investigations.
FBI drug investigations will maximize the use of intelligence resources
such as the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), the multi-agency
Special
Operations Division (SOD), the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal
Intelligence Section (CIS), the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC),
the Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network (FINCEN), the OCDETF Fusion Center, and other specialized
drug intelligence resources to insure the sharing of information, collection
of intelligence, and analysis of that information to state and local
partners and to drive our own investigations. This process enables
the FBI to identify
the most worthy targets.
The
FBI Honolulu Division has also created the Field Intelligence
Group (FIG), a new squad designed to collect, analyze,
and disseminate raw intelligence information to relevant
agencies to address the fight against drugs, terrorism,
and hostile intelligence organizations in a more timely
manner.
DOD's
Joint Interagency Task-Force
In
July 2004, the Department of Defense's (DOD) Joint Interagency
Task Force-West moved from the San Francisco area to
Honolulu. The FBI will be partnering with this task force
to intercept drugs coming from the Far East. The FBI
believes this joint coordination will flush out human
smuggling, money laundering, and narcoterrorism investigations.
The
FBI, in coordination with the DOD Joint Interagency Task-Force,
is keen to maintain vigilance over the investigation
of major drug trafficking cartels who have established
successful smuggling routes into the United States, whether
overland via Points of Entry (POEs) in Mexico and Canada,
by sea through commercial ports on either coast, or by
air. It is clear that narcotics traffickers are exploiting
smuggling routes into the United States as hundreds of
tons of cocaine as well as thousands of illegal aliens
find their way across our borders each year. The FBI,
in conjunction with all our law enforcement partners,
especially the DEA and the Department of Homeland Security,
must remain committed to identifying and eliminating
these smuggling routes, which could easily be adopted
for other, even more catastrophic purposes- like to import
a weapon of mass destruction.
The FBI is instituting major initiatives against special interest aliens (SIA)
as a means to identify, dismantle, and prevent sleeper terrorist cells from
operating in the United States. The FBI's continuing commitment against major
drug cartels is a natural extension of this effort, as the same smuggling routes
and smuggling organizations used to import illegal drugs are also used to move
SIAs into the country.
Conclusion
I
do not see the fight against illegal drugs in Hawaii
ending anytime soon. We are in this for the long haul.
The FBI Honolulu Division, despite our limited resources available for drug
investigations, will continue to partner with all agencies to attack the crystal
methamphetamine problem in Hawaii.
Thank
you for giving me the opportunity to testify before the
Subcommittee today. I will be happy to answer any questions
you may have.
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