Posted on: Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Puna town in line for Weed and Seed status

Associated Press

HILO, Hawai'i — The Big Island's small town of Pahoa soon may have a chance to lose its "wild west" reputation, thanks to the federal government.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said the community tentatively has been designated as a Weed and Seed area. Such a program would coordinate law enforcement, social services and community groups to drive out criminal activities, primarily those involving illegal drugs.

It would be the first such program on the Neighbor Islands after successes in three O'ahu neighborhoods where tougher federal sentences can be used to combat the illegal drug trade.

Kubo, who visited the Big Island this week, said that in Pahoa, trafficking in crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," would be the focus of law enforcement.

He said that while he was walking through Pahoa on an earlier visit, a street dealer offered him drugs, even though he was wearing a dark suit and tie.

Kubo said he has requested that more agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms be assigned to the Big Island where he's opening a satellite office in Hilo.

He said he'll also request that the federal High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Administration set up a branch on the Big Island to undertake wiretap and "walk and talk" investigations to go after drug rings.

Kubo said the decision on designating Pahoa a Weed and Seed area will be made next month when the federal Weed and Seed director plans a Big Island visit.

"Hopefully it will be funded and we can start the process of weeding," Kubo said.

Not only does a Weed and Seed designation come with grants for community projects, but it also means drug dealers caught within 1,000 feet of a park, gymnasium, playground or anywhere children gather can be hit with double the maximum sentence for federal drug convictions.