"PIPE DREAM" STING NETS ARRESTS OF 55 TIED TO "HEAD SHOPS"

Grand jury indicts 17 from Idaho, eastern Oregon

Seventeen owners and employees of "head shops" in Idaho and Eastern Oregon
were arrested Monday as part of Operation Pipe Dream, a nationwide crackdown
on the trafficking of illegal drug paraphernalia sold in traditional stores
and on the Internet. The arrests netted the operators of stores such as the
Red Eye Hut, which has locations in Boise, Nampa and Ontario, Ore.

In all, 55 people were arrested and charged in at least 10 states by
federal, state and local authorities for alleged involvement in the sale of
products intended for the use of illegal drugs, including bongs, marijuana
pipes, miniature spoons and scales.

Authorities did not shut down the shops in Idaho, although their suspicious
inventories have been seized, and the owners were notified that their
properties could be permanently forfeited.

"These aren't stores selling a few pipes here and there, nor are they
selling legitimate tobacco-related products," said U.S. Attorney Tom Moss,
who announced the arrests at a news conference in Boise.

"These are drug-oriented businesses, and they represent big money," he said,
saying the proceeds from the sale of the illicit items in Idaho runs "in the
hundreds of thousands of dollars."

It's a federal crime to sell products mainly intended for the use of illegal
drugs. Those charged face up to three years in prison and maximum fines of
$250,000.

Boise Police Chief Don Pierce said he believes that the bust has broken the
back of large-scale sellers of illegal drug paraphernalia in the Treasure
Valley.

"I think we've pretty much taken care of them, although if we come across
any more of them, we won't hesitate to make more arrests," he said.

The BANDIT Task Force was part of the year-long Operation Pipe Dream in
Idaho, which also involved agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration,
the U.S. Marshals Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and a number of
other agencies. BANDIT investigates gambling, prostitution and illegal drug
use, and includes detectives from the Boise, Meridian and Garden City police
departments, along with the Idaho National Guard.

Anthony Hall, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Idaho, said
authorities focused on the owners and shops based on their own
investigations and from complaints filed by residents.

"These are the ones that are bigger and have a higher profile in the
community," he said.

U.S. officials said the arrests signal authorities' seriousness in tearing
down the drug paraphernalia business.

"This illegal billion-dollar industry cannot be ignored by law enforcement,"
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a statement.

"Open sale of paraphernalia in retail 'head shops' and over the Internet
sends the unfortunate message to our young people that purchase of these
items is legal or at least tolerated by law enforcement," he said.

Organizations advocating the legalization of marijuana accused Ashcroft of
grandstanding.

"At a time when the rest of the country is worried about terrorism, this
attorney general is going after people who sell pipes," said Keith Stroup,
the founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
"Surely he has something better to do with his time."

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, suggested
the busts were aimed at scoring political points against a perceived
counterculture.

"It would be more logical - although I'm not suggesting this - to prosecute
people who sell beer mugs because of the poison consumed in them," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.