Department of Defense

Aviators help in Green Harvest

Nearly 22,000 pounds of marijuana were confiscated on Maui, Molokai and Kauai during a recent phase of Operation Green Harvest. State and Federal law enforcement officials conducted the operation with logistical support from Hawaii Army National Guard aviators and flight crew members.

Local law enforcement agencies wanted to attack the drug problem on an economic basis by destroying marijuana wherever it was found. There were three separate search-and-destroy raids conducted: the first was on Maui and Molokai from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1; the second on Maui from Sept. 5 to 8; and the third on Kauai from Sept. 11 to 15.

At the request of Maui Mayor Elmer Cravalho and Kauai Mayor Eduardo Malapit, Gov. George R. Ariyoshi authorized a total of 29 Hawaii Army National Guard aviators and flight crew members on State active duty to assist the police and Federal officials during the three raids. No more than 19 guardsmen were on duty each day.

Since many of the marijuana plants were believed to be cultivated on property highly inacce sible by land, the search and seizure of the illicit weed could only be accomplished with the use of helicopters

Five Army National Guard helicopters, two OH-58s and three H-1 s were used in the raids which resulted in 15, 185 pounds of marijuana confiscated on Maui and Molokai and 6,124 pounds on Kauai. Police estimated the street value of the confiscated goods at more than $4.2 million.

Eleven weapons and two boats were seized during the marijuana raids. Fifteen persons were arrested.

The entire operation cost the State approximately $32,000 with the bulk of the cost pegged at the salaries of the Army Guard aviators and the aviation fuel.

Two OH-58 helicopters were used to fly police spotters who were trained to locate the marijuana plants from the air.

As the situation required. the H-1 helicopter were then used to transport police task force teams to the marijuana patches.

The police task force teams did the actual “harvesting” of the marijuana, while the guardsmen’s job was to transport police teams and the plants.

According to Maj. Gen. Valentine A. Siefermann, State adjutant general, “The operations were conducted in a highly organized and professional manner without any serious incident.”

– 1978 December Pūpūkahi pp. 1

Helicopter support was provided the joint federal-county law enforcement task force statewide “Operation Green Harvest” marijuana eradication program on three separate occasions. Gaining access by helicopters into areas highly inaccessible by land has proved to be most effective for police in such eradication operations.

– 1979 Annual Report pp. 6

Operation Green Harvest continues; guard Support

Nearly 40,416 pounds of marijuana were confiscated on Kauai, Oahu and Big Island during a recent phase of Operation Green Harvest.

State and County law enforcement officials conducted operations with aviation support from Hawaii Army National Guard aviators and flight crew members.

The most recent phase of Operation Green Harvest in the continuing effort by local law enforcement agencies to attack the drug problem on an economic basis by destroying marijuana wherever it is found.

Gov. George R. Ariyoshi authorized the use of the National Guard equipment and personnel at the request of Big Island Mayor Herbert Matayoshi, Kauai Mayor Eduardo Malapit and Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi.

A total of 65 Hawaii Army National Guard aviators, flight crew and support personnel were placed on state active duty to assist the county police during the raids on the three islands.

As local law enforcement efforts are: stepped up to combat the illegal growth of the “Pakalolo”, farmers growing marijuana are being forced to grow their crop in remote areas of their island. It is because of this fact, marijuana being grown in highly inaccessible terrain, that the search and seizure of
the illicit weed could only be accomplished with the use of helicopters.

Seventeen Army National Guard helicopters, eight OH-58s and nine UH-1Hs were used in the raids which resulted in 36,660 pounds of marijuana confiscated on the Big Island, 2,000 pounds on Kauai and 1,756 pounds on Oahu. Police estimated the street value of the confiscated goods at nearly $1.5 million.

During the raids, county vice officers arrested five persons. The entire operation cost the state $61,600 with the bulk of the costs attributed to the salaries of the Army Guard aviators and the cost of flying the aircraft.

The OH-58 helicopters were used to fly police spotters who are trained to locate marijuana plants from the air.

The U H-1 H “Hueys” were then used to , transport police task force teams to the ‘pakalolo” patches.

Police task force teams, armed with machetes and side arms, were lowered from the helicopters into the patches to chop down the plants as well as clear a landing zone for the helicopters. The cut plants were then hauled away, either suspended beneath the helicopter tied by rope or loaded inside the aircraft.

According to Maj. Gen. Valentine A. Siefermann, state adjutant general, “The operations were conducted in a highly organized and professional manner without any serious incident.”

– 1979 December Pūpūkahi pp. 4-5

The department participated in law enforcement task force marijuana eradication projects called, “Operation Green Harvest.” Two separate operations were conducted statewide during fiscal year 1980.

– 1980 Annual Report pp. 15

In connection with their State mission, the Hawaii Army National Guard provided a great deal of helicopter and personnel support to the counties for the “green harvest” operations.

– 1981 Annual Report pp. 1

During this period, 578.4 aircraft hours were flown in support of county law enforcement agencies in the effort to eradicate marijuana crops.

– 1981 Annual Report pp. 6

Garden Isle Green Harvest

– 1981 Fall Pūpūkahi pp. 6

The Hawaii Army National Guard also continued to provide helicopter support to the counties for “Green Harvest” operations.

– 1982 Annual Report pp. 1

Aircrew members played an active role on state active duty in support of county law enforcement agencies during “Operation Green Harvest,” a marijuana eradication mission conducted in the counties of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu. Approximately 800 flight hours were utilized to support state related missions. . .

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support the law enforcement task force on the marijuana eradication program “Operation Green Harvest” with helicopters and personnel. For the first time, armed troops were employed on Kauai in the August 1981 operation. Police intelligence revealed possible armed retaliation from marijuana growers.

– 1982 Annual Report pp. 8

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support “Operation Green Harvest” with helicopter and personnel. “Operation Green Harvest” seeks to significantly reduce the production of marijuana. In July 1982, rappeling training assistance was provided to law enforcement personnel in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

– 1983 Annual Report pp. 10

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support the law enforcement task force in each county in the marijuana eradication program, “Operation Green Harvest.” The Hawaii Army National Guard provided helicopter and personnel support, expending 1,274 mandays and 542 flying hours. Rappelling training assistance was also provided to the emergency response teams of each county during the year.

– 1984 Annual Report pp. 9

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support the law enforcement task force from each county in the marijuana eradication program, ” Operation Green Harvest.” The Hawaii Army National Guard provided helicopter and personnel support expending 460 man-days and 344 flying hours that included rappelling training assistance provided to the state and county emergency response teams during the year.

– 1985 Annual Report pp. 9

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support law enforcement task forces in each county in the marijuana eradication program, “Operation Green Harvest;’ by providing helicopter and personnel support. Rappelling training assistance was also provided to emergency response teams of each county during the year.

– 1986 Annual Report pp. 8

The Hawaii Army National Guard has and will continue to support civil authorities for law enforcement purposes. Helicopter support is provided to each county for the marijuana eradication program called “Operation Green Harvest:’ This operation supplements other programs provided by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

– 1987 Annual Report pp. 8

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support civil authorities for law enforcement purposes. The Hawaii Army National Guard provided helicopter support to each county for the marijuana eradication program called, “Operation Green Harvest.” This operation supplements other programs provided by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. This year, the Guard flew more than 240 helicopter hours in seven operations, which resulted in the destruction of 434,905 marijuana plants with a street value of $434,905,000.

– 1988 Annual Report pp. 7

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support civil authorities for law enforcement purposes. The 1989 Defense Authorization and Appropriations Act provided funding for an enhanced role for the National Guard in drug enforcement support. To support law enforcement agencies, National Guard personnel are placed on Active Duty Special Work, Title 32, U.S C., status which must be performed over and above normal training. Since the receipt of Federal resources to support drug enforcement operations. The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to provide helicopter support to each county for the marijuana eradication program called, “Operation Green Harvest.”

– 1989 Annual Report pp. 9

The Hawaii Army National Guard continued to support civil authorities for law enforcement purposes. Again in FY 1990, Federal funds were provided to the National Guard for its enhanced role in drug enforcement support. To support law enforcement agencies, National Guard personnel are placed on Active Duty Special Work, Title 32, U.S.C., status which must be performed over and above normal training. Since the receipt of Federal resources to support drug enforcement operations, the Hawaii Army National Guard continued to provide helicopter support to each county for the marijuana eradication program “Operation Green Harvest.”

– 1990 Annual Report pp. 9

Marijuana eradication reaches out beyond Hawaii

By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen M. Lum
117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

After capping the Hawaii Island’s Operation GREEN HARVEST missions with a haul of 6,000 Marijuana plants on Kauai – the Hawaii National Guard Counterdrug Support Program wrapped-up the 2007 Federal Fiscal Year with a swing through the U.S. territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Island (Saipan).

Weather limits mission

Inclement weather conditions limited a high yield in the September eradication mission. For the fourth time, in a truly joint/interagency collaborative effort, Hawaii joined the Guam Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other government organizations in the humid rain soaked Guam and Saipan missions. Still ,more than 400 Marijuana plants were eradicated and a federal warrant was exercised which led to the seizure of one ounce of Crystal Meth, miscellaneous property, and three arrests. The Guam National Guard’s Counterdrug Program, which is in its seventh year, provided most of the local logistical support, including transportation and the all important hydration product, cold water.

Collaborative efforts noted by DEA

The Hawaii Guard Counterdrug staff led the coordination efforts of the Guam mission. Key to the operation was the movement of Hawaii Army Guard and DEA helicopters to Guam through the collaborative hands of the National Guard Bureau and the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 204th Airlift Squadron with their C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

“The missions are one of the most successful collaborative efforts of federal, state and local, military and civilian law enforcement organizations,” said Antonio Marquez, DEA resident agent in charge. He credited the Hawaii and Guam National Guard Counterdrug Programs for the smooth operations in eradication mission, including air and ground transportation support.

Other organizations included the Department of Justice’s DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); U.S. Marshal; Army Command’s Criminal Investigative Division (CID) Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS); U.S. Coast Guard; Guam and Saipan Customs; Guam, Saipan and Hawaii Police Departments; and Idaho National Guard.

Hawaii Guard at eradication forefront

It has been over 30 years since the first Operation GREEN HARVEST. It all began in 1977, when Hawaii became the first state to use National Guard equipment and personnel to fight the war on drugs, a project that united efforts of various local and state agencies in a mission to eradicate marijuana. Guard helicopters and vehicles were used to locate and transport the eradicated plants to undisclosed locations for account and destruction. The National Guard’s counterdrug program, which officially began in 1989, is now present in all states and territories.

Key to Hawaii success in 18-year Counterdrug Support Program is the Reconnaissance and Interdiction Detachment (RAID), which is located in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii.

The RAID’s OH-58A Kiowa Observation helicopters do aerial reconnaissance missions year-round, supporting local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Kiowa is modified with taller landing skids that enable the fitting of the Forward Looking Infrared Radar thermal imaging system that “see in the dark.” This year, plans include continuing the year-round reconnaissance of the Hawaiian Islands and hopefully, again to Saipan.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Photos were shot by Jeff Palacios (Guam Customs), Tech. Sgt. Blaine Osato and Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Lum

– 2007 July – October Pūpūkahi pp. 4

Hawaii Guard supports Guam, Saipan counterdrug operations

Story and photos by Sgt. Jamieson L. Pond
117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Hawaii National Guard Soldiers and Airmen flew to Guam and Saipan in support of marijuana eradication Operation GREEN HARVEST in July.

Operation GREEN HARVEST is a collaborative joint/interagency mission which includes cooperation between the Hawaii National Guard’s Counterdrug Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, local law enforcement, and Guam National Guard Counter-drug unit.

The Operation GREEN HARVEST Guam and Saipan mission first began in 2001 and has continued every year since. The original GREEN HARVEST started in 1977 in Hawaii and is still ongoing.

“The operation typically lasts between seven and 10 days and occurs once a year,” said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. William Gordon, the acting counter-drug coordinator for GREEN HARVEST.

“We usually recover between 900 and 1,000 plants on Guam and Saipan,” said Gordon. “The plants range in size from seedlings to 16 feet. The estimated value of each plant is $1,000, regardless of the size of the plant.”

“The major role of the Hawaii National Guard in Operation Green Harvest is aviation support. The Hawaii Guard and DEA each bring down a helicopter to support the operation,” said Maj. Stan T. Garcia, Hawaii Army Guard operations officer in charge.

“Each helicopter has at least one spotter, who is trained to locate marijuana plants. The DEA helicopter has two spotters while the Hawaii Guard’s helicopter includes two pilots who are both trained in spotting the marijuana patches,” said Garcia.

“The most common places we find the plants are in people’s backyard,” said Chief Warrant Officer Clyde Pelekai, a helicopter pilot and spotter with the Hawaii Guard Counter-Drug Support Program. “We’ve found plants pretty much anywhere you can imagine. Plants have been found on federal property, including unoccupied parts of military bases.”

“After the operation ends, all the plants are collected and handed over to the local law enforcement. The plants are then dried out for approximately one week, and then they are burned,” said DEA Special Agent Ken L. Bowman.

“This operation is important because it prevents the drugs from getting to the youth. Marijuana is a gateway drug and the most important thing is keeping it out of the hands of the kids,” said Pelekai.

Every time we find marijuana plants during this operation we are preventing the drugs from hitting the streets. We’re making it harder for the public to get their hands on this drug and we’re driving the price higher which makes it not as readily available, said Bowman.

– 2008 July – 2009 March Pūpūkahi pp. 6

It’s not easy being green: Marijuana eradication on Guam

TAMUNING, Guam – This past June, Hawaii and Guam’s National Guard Counter Drug Task Force (CDTF) joined the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and various law enforcement agencies and for a major Marijuana Eradication mission on Guam.

Operation GREEN HARVEST, or marijuana, eradication, on the island of Guam has been conducted by the National Guard since 2001, and it’s the final mission of the fiscalyear for the CDTF. Operation GREEN

HARVEST’s mission is to eradicate and suppress the growing of cannabis on domestic soil cutting the life line of criminal enterprises whom profit from its sale and distribution. Operation GREEN HARVEST has been conducted in Hawaii and California since 1977 and expanded to 25 states in 1985.

“The collaborative effort between Federal and local agencies and the National Guard allow GREEN HARVEST to be as successful as it has been,” said Tony Marquez, DEA, resident agent in charge. “The marijuana eradicated on Guam has to be a jointeffort, and each year the support provided by the National Guard has facilitated smooth operations and great results.”

650 plants seized

Over 650 plants were seized this year from all regions of the island during the three day operation.

Since its inaugural year, the amount of plants confiscated on Guam has been getting less and less, but that is not how victory against the war on drugs is solely measured by those involved. In the past, operations on Guam and Saipan would easily net over a thousand plants. However recently, operation GREEN HARVEST, has forced the majority of growers to adjust their modus operandi. These clever adjustments include: using better concealment, distancing patches from main trails , or roads and having smaller numbers of the plants in one place. The deterring factor of all that hard work could have possibly helped to lower the overall number of plants in the ground.

The moment people hear the low flying helicopters, word spreads that the marijuana eradication teams are present and most growers tear up or uproot their own plants, fearing that they will be found by the team. These actions show the operation is working, said Col. Diron J. Cruz, chief of staff Guam Army National Guard.

“It does get better every year. Success is not determined by the number of plants we uproot and seize. The success is the team and the system in place to do the job safely and with maximum effectiveness. Every year that team builds upon the communication, coordination and execution lessons learned from prior missions,” said Cruz. “To have an operation that involves so many players, and so many moving parts, and in the end, gainfully service the local community, that is a success.”

Aerial advantage

In order to gain the advantage over marijuana growers, helicopters are used to find the plants. According to experienced spotters, marijuana has a distinct “green” color and it stands out among the throngs of green that make up the Guam landscape. The Hawaii Army Guard’s Det. 1, Co. B, 3rd Bn., 140th Aviation OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopters and a DEA helicopter set out each day to spot cultivation of marijuana then guide teams on the ground to the exact site to pull the plants. The ground teams travel in mini-convoys to each suspected location and sometimes have to hike and “machete” their way through thick growth to reach the illegal plants. Once on site, the plants are pulled out of the ground with roots intact and if any pots were used, they are destroyed. Many times the plants are already cut or pulled, but once they are removed from the ground, they rarely survive replanting. The ground teams still celebrate finding the plants and they also let the aerial teams know that it was a good find.

“Even the little ones count!” states Capt. Phoebechelo Inigo, operations officer with the Hawaii Guard’s conuterdrug Support Program ” for many of the Hawaii Guard troops, it was their first time working an eradications mission in Guam, but they have experience working with Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) back home.”

Cooperation key to success

“At first I was hesitant about joining ( the Counterdrug Support Program), but after working with the different LEAs I was proud to be part of the team,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Kamalii, a member of Hawaii Counterdrug and an intelligent analyst with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Honolulu. “It feels good to help the community and get drugs off the street.”

This year the ground teams were composed of Hawaii and Guam National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, and representatives from a variety of LEAs: DEA, ATF, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Guam immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Federal Marshals, the Coast Guard, Navy Criminal Investigative service (NCIS), Guam and Hawaii Police Officers, the U.S. Postal Service and the Internal Revenue Service.

The motivation generated from the mission could be felt through both the coordinated efforts of the teams and the positive impact the mission has had on the island drug problem in the community. “Experience was our advantage and we established this solid network among the various agencies years ago,” said Capt. Gerard S. Valwto, Guam National Guard counterdrug coordinator.

The National Guard is in the unique position to contribute to drug law enforcement efforts and can assist law enforcement agencies in several areas. Marijuana Eradication Missions like Operation GREEN HARVEST are part of an on going endeavor by the government to combat the drug problem in the U.S. “As long as people are growing the stuff, the Guard is committed to step up and be a part of the team,” said Cruz. “Guam is only a microcosm in the large effort of marijuana seizures nationally, but We do get our share of resources to execute this mission. This is a problem that is not going away.”

 Mission History

The National Guard involvement in the war on drugs began in 1977 in Hawaii when it provided four helicopters to Operation GREEN HARVEST to detect marijuana fields, transport law enforcement personnel to the fields, and transport confiscated illicit drugs. The National Guard Counterdrug Program is the leading domestic conterdrug support agency to create a drug/free America. Each state and U.S. territory has a National Guard Counterdrug Program that supports local, state, and federal law enforcement and community based organizations. Each National Guard Counterdrug Program focuses its resources to support educational and prevention operations within the community that are coordinated efforts in drug prevention.

– 2009 April – September Pūpūkahi pp. 12-14