News (Media Awareness Project) - US HI: Editorial: State's Privacy Laws At Risk |
| Title: | US HI: Editorial: State's Privacy Laws At Risk |
| Published On: | 2003-10-21 |
| Source: | Maui News, The (HI) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-19 08:31:11 |
STATE'S PRIVACY LAWS AT RISK
Even before all of the accused had been rounded up, U.S. Attorney Edward
Kubo Jr. was standing in front of reporters telling how a group of federal,
state and county agents had hit five major drug rings.
The Hawaii High Intensity Drug Traffic Area Group obtained federal grand
jury indictments against 50 people on drug conspiracy charges involving
"pounds and pounds and pounds" of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine
brought into the islands. At the time of the news conference, 40 of the 50
had been taken into custody.
Kubo said five loosely associated drug rings had been shut down by Operation
Shave Ice. Anything that puts a crimp in the supplies of ice coming into the
islands is welcome news. The operation may have cut the supplies of ice on
the Big Island by 30 to 35 percent. Kubo said the impact on Oahu ice
trafficking would be much less.
Recent history indicates that it takes a joint effort by federal, state and
county officials to make a major dent in illegal drug trafficking, largely
because local officials are so underfunded and understaffed it is difficult
to operate the kind of long-term surveillance and investigations needed.
Kubo said Operation Shave Ice "shows that the federal wiretap laws can and
will protect our citizens from those who would dare to import or distribute
ice to our people." Kubo added that some lesser members of the drug rings
escaped prosecution because "solid evidence" from federal wire taps can't be
used in state court due to Hawaii's more restrictive laws governing wire
taps.
Kubo is on record as advocating a major loosening of the state's laws
designed to protect individual privacy. The way he announced last week's
operation indicates a full-court press on getting the state's wire-tap laws
loosened.
As evidenced in Congress with the Patriot Act and throughout history,
whenever a faceless threat is feared there is a move to subjugate individual
rights for ease of prosecution. State legislators should look at attempts to
erode personal privacy protections very carefully.
Even before all of the accused had been rounded up, U.S. Attorney Edward
Kubo Jr. was standing in front of reporters telling how a group of federal,
state and county agents had hit five major drug rings.
The Hawaii High Intensity Drug Traffic Area Group obtained federal grand
jury indictments against 50 people on drug conspiracy charges involving
"pounds and pounds and pounds" of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine
brought into the islands. At the time of the news conference, 40 of the 50
had been taken into custody.
Kubo said five loosely associated drug rings had been shut down by Operation
Shave Ice. Anything that puts a crimp in the supplies of ice coming into the
islands is welcome news. The operation may have cut the supplies of ice on
the Big Island by 30 to 35 percent. Kubo said the impact on Oahu ice
trafficking would be much less.
Recent history indicates that it takes a joint effort by federal, state and
county officials to make a major dent in illegal drug trafficking, largely
because local officials are so underfunded and understaffed it is difficult
to operate the kind of long-term surveillance and investigations needed.
Kubo said Operation Shave Ice "shows that the federal wiretap laws can and
will protect our citizens from those who would dare to import or distribute
ice to our people." Kubo added that some lesser members of the drug rings
escaped prosecution because "solid evidence" from federal wire taps can't be
used in state court due to Hawaii's more restrictive laws governing wire
taps.
Kubo is on record as advocating a major loosening of the state's laws
designed to protect individual privacy. The way he announced last week's
operation indicates a full-court press on getting the state's wire-tap laws
loosened.
As evidenced in Congress with the Patriot Act and throughout history,
whenever a faceless threat is feared there is a move to subjugate individual
rights for ease of prosecution. State legislators should look at attempts to
erode personal privacy protections very carefully.
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