Now the Mexican drug lord is targeting Hawaii as another major drug market

THE STRATEGY OF THE CARTELS

As in remote Alaska, cartels encounter less competition in Hawaii compared to the mainland, allowing them to demand higher prices. In addition to methamphetamines and fentanyl, drug networks also smuggle cocaine and heroin into Hawaii. Clare E. Connors, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, confirms that these drugs come from Mexican cartels.

Drug shipments typically arrive first in Honolulu, the state capital, often smuggled in airline passengers’ luggage or in mailed packages. Once in Honolulu, the drugs are distributed to the other Hawaiian islands. Connors notes that “we also continue to see a lot of it coming in via body carriers,” referring to airline passengers who conceal drugs on their bodies or in carry-on luggage. Surprisingly, these substances sometimes slip through federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations.

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The Mexican cartels’ determination to target Hawaii, despite its remote location in the Pacific Ocean, illustrates a key strategy to maximize profits by extending their operations beyond major U.S. cities to more remote states with fewer competitors and fewer law enforcement resources.

IMPACT ON OAHU ISLAND

Oahu, though not the largest island in the state, is known as the “Heart of Hawaii” and remains one of the most famous and visited destinations. Drug traffickers, like tourists, first fly into Honolulu, the state’s busiest airport and home to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. From there, some drug shipments remain in Honolulu, while others are distributed throughout the island.

This creates an often-hidden divide between happy vacationers and despondent residents battling addiction. Vazquez warns that no one should be surprised and that everyone should be aware that the drug crisis affects all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Every region of Oahu has been impacted by the drug crisis. The east coast, known as the Windward Region, draws tourists for its lush rainforests and dramatic valleys that have been featured in movies such as Jurassic Park. The north shore is famous for its world-class surfing competitions and laid-back vibe, as well as the Dole pineapple fields. To the southeast, Hanauma Bay, a nature reserve formed inside a volcanic cone, draws millions of visitors annually for its cobalt and turquoise waters ideal for snorkeling.

However, the hardest hit region is the West Side, famous for its stunning sunsets and home to a large Native Hawaiian population. This area is also home to several crime-ridden areas. Connors expresses concern about the tragic consequences they could begin to see in the state among young people due to the growing presence of drugs.

TESTIMONIES FROM THE FIELD

To better understand the scope of the drug crisis in Hawaii, a reporter from the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA Today network, spent several days on Oahu in June. During his stay, he spoke with the DEA, local police, an emergency physician, and leaders and participants of a Leeward recovery program for Native Hawaiian men, most of whom have served time in prison.

Synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, are responsible for nearly all fatal drug poisonings across the U.S., according to the DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment.Gary Yabuta, a law enforcement veteran and former Maui police chief, says methamphetamine has been the dominant drug plaguing Hawaii for decades. While the drug provides a rush of energy, it can also cause paranoia and violence.

Methamphetamine doesn’t always get the full blame it deserves, doctors say, as it can kill slowly over time, often causing heart failure.. The methamphetamine on the streets today, nicknamed “ice,” is typically close to 100 percent pure, far more lethal than the 50 percent purity of the home labs popular in the U.S. years ago. “I call death by meth a cancer: You die one day at a time,” says Yabuta, who now works in Honolulu overseeing the state’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force. Yabuta also notes that the drug is smuggled across the border by cartel enforcers, and has devastated Hawaii.

THE RISE OF FENTANYL

Yabuta and DEA agents have also noticed a rise in fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is now the number one drug killing Americans. A “Blue 30,” or fake oxycodone pill, sells for as little as $2 in Los Angeles, but can fetch $16 or more in Hawaii.exemplifying what draws powerful cartels to the islands. According to the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” warning campaign, seven out of ten pills seized in the U.S. now contain a potentially lethal dose.

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A year ago, The DEA formed an overdose response task force in collaboration with local police and federally funded drug investigators overseen by Yabuta. This task force traces the last contacts of overdose victims, examining text messages and calls to identify the source of the fatal dose.

THE COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE

To address this crisis, the community on Oahu has developed recovery programs. One such program is Ho’omau Ke Ola, which uses Native Hawaiian culture to help formerly incarcerated men overcome addiction.The program offers 75-day residential treatments and outpatient services, focusing on connecting with cultural roots through chants and spiritual purification rituals in the ocean.

Yet despite these efforts, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander men and women are three times less likely to receive treatment for mental health and addiction issues compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Office of Minority Health.

To combat this disparity, the state of Hawaii developed a five-year plan in 2022 to promote culturally appropriate mental health and addiction treatments.This plan includes innovative therapies such as horse therapy, group nature walks, sunset yoga and ocean therapy, which includes surfing and swimming with dolphins.

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Mark Baker, an emergency medicine specialist on Oahu, founded endmeth.org to educate Hawaiians about the dangers of methamphetamine use. Baker and his team work in collaboration with other physicians, state health officials and veteran narcotics investigators to prevent and treat addiction. They insist the problem will not improve until the community as a whole recognizes the severity of the crisis and takes steps to end it.

In summary, Combating the drug crisis in Hawaii requires a concerted community effort and increased investment in culturally sensitive and preventative treatment programs. Only then can the devastating impact of drugs in this paradise be effectively addressed. With information from USA Today