U.S. TARGETS PURVEYORS OF GEAR FOR ILLICIT DRUGS

Federal law enforcement officials announced a major crackdown on purveyors
of drug paraphernalia yesterday, indicting 55 people and 10 national
distribution companies that have become multimillion-dollar businesses
allegedly by using the Internet to sell items such as marijuana pipes and
bongs.

Many of those indicted were arrested in simultaneous raids across the
country, from Pennsylvania, where the investigation began, to California,
where one raid involved a bong manufacturing firm associated with Tommy
Chong, who lampooned the drug culture as part of the comedy team Cheech and
Chong. The firm, Chong Glass, was not indicted.

In addition to raiding warehouses and head shops, federal agents led by the
Drug Enforcement Administration disabled a dozen Web sites that allegedly
marketed drug paraphernalia. Officials said yesterday's action shut down
more than half the distribution of drug paraphernalia in the United States.

"With the advent of the Internet, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry
has exploded," said Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, who announced the
indictments. He and other officials said the products, which include
marijuana pipes hidden in lipstick tubes and markers, have in some cases
been specifically marketed to young people.

"Quite simply, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the
homes of families across the country without their knowledge," Ashcroft
said. "This illegal billion-dollar industry will no longer be ignored by
law enforcement."

Federal law expressly prohibits the sale or importation of water pipes,
bongs, marijuana pipes, cocaine freebase kits and crack pipes. Distributors
indicted yesterday also allegedly marketed items to drug dealers, including
scales and substances used to dilute raw narcotics, as well as products
intended to defeat drug tests.

If convicted, they face three years in prison and forfeiture of property
and proceeds from the sales.

Organizations that favor drug legalization criticized the crackdown on an
industry that has not faced broad legal challenge in recent years. "These
paraphernalia laws exist in no other advanced democracy," said Ethan
Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, which promotes alternatives
to the war on drugs. "There is no evidence that these laws have any impact
on reducing drug use whatsoever."