AIRPORT DRUG ARRESTS TAKE OFF

Increased Security Nearly Quadruples Cases In 1 Year, Mostly For Marijuana
And Ice

Drug-related arrests at Honolulu Airport have almost quadrupled in one year,
mainly due to increased security after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks, according to statistics from state Narcotics Enforcement Division
officials.

In 2001, narcotics agents and state sheriffs reported making 27 arrests and
handling 44 drug-related cases at the airport. In 2002, that number
increased to 102 airport arrests and 230 drug-related cases.

State narcotics officials say a majority of the busts involve marijuana
possession. In 2001, state sheriffs seized 35 grams of marijuana; in 2002,
they seized an estimated 302 grams.

Ed Howard, state narcotics supervising investigator, estimated that of those
arrested for marijuana, 25 percent to 35 percent are out-of-state visitors.

"One guy we interviewed after his arrest was here for the game against
Alabama," said Howard. "He said he'd heard so much about our weed here that
he wanted to bring some back."

"We've also had about three or four arrests involving visitors from
California who try showing us their medicinal marijuana authorization
letters thinking that it's OK here. ... One guy had a whole ounce because he
said he wanted to 'stock up.'"

Howard said the other most common drug bust at Honolulu Airport involves
those addicted to crystal methamphetamine, or ice.

"Most of them are legitimately employed doing a job which requires them to
travel a lot, but they can't leave the ice at home," said Howard. "One guy
was an ironworker who had a job on the Big Island and said he couldn't get
up in the morning without his ice.

"The sheriffs are doing a great job down there keeping up with all the extra
work. ... We're getting a lot of small amounts -- user amounts. We're not
really seeing large dealer amounts anymore."

Most airport drug busts last year were made at either the security
checkpoint for ticketed passengers or at the random security searches near
the gates.

In November the Transportation Safety Administration added another level of
security by checking all passenger luggage by way of X-ray machines, testing
for trace particles of dangerous chemicals and even by hand or with
bomb-sniffing dogs.

Howard expects that with the new 100 percent bag-screening process in place,
state sheriffs and narcotics agents should see an even greater number of
airport drug-related arrests this year.

However, the man in charge of the TSA's 700 employees here in Hawaii said he
doubts that, mainly because he feels the word will get out that drug
smuggling at the airport is too great of a risk.

"We're here to find weapons, but we aren't going to overlook any
contraband," said TSA Director Sydney Hayakawa. "I think people will come to
realize it isn't worth it anymore.

"I mean, if you were a drug user or dealer, would you want to chance it?"