Department of Defense

The Hawaii National Guard received $247,000 from the Federal Government to support County, State and Federal law enforcement agencies in local drug eradication and interdiction efforts. The program is controlled by the State and involves the use of Guard equipment and personnel. Since June 1, 1989, 10 Army Guard soldiers have been alternating on active duty to support the U.S. Customs Service.

– 1989 Annual Report pp. 1

Beginning on June 1, 1989, 10 Hawaii Army National Guard personnel were placed on active duty to provide assistance and support to the U.S. Customs Service. They assist customs inspectors in the inspection and search of foreign arrival cargo containers, aircraft, postal mail and packages.

– 1989 Annual Report pp. 9

Hawaii National Guard assists U.S. Customs in drug enforcement

The Hawaii National Guard is expanding its support to Federal and county drug enforcement agencies in the State.

Currently, 10 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers are on active duty to provide assistance to the U.S. Customs Service m the interdiction of drugs coming into the State of Hawaii.

One officer and nine enlisted soldiers have been working with customs inspectors since June I in the examination and search of cargo containers, aircraft, postal mail and packages arriving from foreign countries. The soldiers work in teams, headed by customs inspectors, at the Honolulu Harbor, the Honolulu International Airport and the U.S. Postal Service’s Main Honolulu Office at the Airport.

So far, the soldiers have not been involved in any drug cases but have been directly responsible for three major commercial fraud seizures totaling $52,000.00. The assistance being provided by the State to the U.S. Customs Service is part of a Federally-funded program to expand the role of the National Guard in drug enforcement support. In late March, Hawaii received more than $247,000 from the Federal Government to assist in stemming the flow of illegal drugs into the State.

Under this expanded program, Hawaii National Guard personnel are placed on active duty under State control in accordance with Title 32, United States Code. The code also provides them protection under the Federal Torts Claims Act. The guard personnel are paid full pay and allowances, receive military medical and incapacitation pay benefits, and are credited with one retirement point for each day of active duty.

Besides assistance to the U.S. Customs Service, the National Guard is providing four other categories of support to law enforcement agencies:

1. Personnel and equipment to provide logistical support to law enforcement agencies or out-of-state National Guard units.
2. Ground radar tracking of lowflying aircraft using the radar systems assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG).
3. Aerial reconnaissance or surveillance of suspicious watercraft using the C-130 aircraft assigned to the HIANG.
4. Ground reconnaissance or surveillance of suspect drug activities using soldiers and sensors, night vision devices, and other specialized equipment assigned to the 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Hawaii Army National Guard.

The Hawaii National Guard first became involved in drug enforcement support in 1977 with its participation in “Operation Green Harvest,” the first such undertaking in the nation that involved the use of Hawaii Army National Guard equipment (UH-I transport and / or OH-58 observation helicopters) and soldiers in a State active duty status to provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies in the identification, seizure, and destruction of domestically grown marijuana. The Guard was not involved in the arrest of landowners or growers but merely provided transportation for local law enforcement officials, primarily in the area of helicopter, UH-I and OH-58 support.

From 1977 to 1988, HIARNG conducted 97 Green Harvest operations at a total cost of $1.1 million to the State. During this period, two million marijuana plants were destroyed (estimated street value of $2 billion) or a cost per plant of $.56.

The new Federally-funded program expands Hawaii National Guard support to other law enforcement agencies involved in combatting illegal drugs with the State maintaining control in all aspects of the operations.

– 1989 April – June Pūpūkahi pp. 1 & 3