'ICE' BUST

Action speaks louder than words, especially when it comes to attacking Kaua'i's
serious drug abuse problem.

Early Thursday morning Koloa town residents were rudely awakened by the
whirring of a large DEA helicopter. The loud noise turned out to be a blessing
for residents of a low-income apartment project when they discovered that
police were serving search warrants on residents of what's alleged to be "ice"
houses.

The Kaua'i Police Department was joined by federal agents and law enforcement
officials from other islands. They were ready for action with guns drawn in the
well-executed plan that resulted in no injuries, except to the pride of
suspected "ice" dealers and users.

Reports of "ice" houses being located in and around Koloa town have come into
The Garden Island, it is good to see law enforcement officials under the urging
of Mayor Bryan Baptiste taking some concrete action on the issue.

We hope the photographs on our front page today will send out a message that
"ice" use and dealing won't be tolerated on Kaua'i.

The appearance of federal law officers and a helicopter from the Drug
Enforcement Agency is a good sign that federal involvement in solving Kaua'i's
drug problem is stepping up. Federal prosecutor Ed Kubo has found great success
in Waipahu and other areas of O'ahu with reported drug abuse and dealing
problems. We can expect to see more such busts in other areas of Kaua'i, with
Sen. Daniel Inouye and Rep. Ed Case seeking federal funds for Kaua'i to turn
the heat up on the illegal acts of drug dealers and suppliers.

The fight also needs to be taken to those who transport "ice" and other illegal
drugs to Kaua'i; they are the ones making the fortunes and spreading the poison
known as "ice" to our local residents, young and old.