Hawaii islands is known for its picturesque beaches and various other tourist monuments. Like the other states of the US, it has its own share of challenges and one such issue is that of drugs. It has been reported by USA Today that Mexican cartels are wreaking havoc in this peaceful place. There are two dominant cartels which are Sinaloa and its rival which is known as the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion who run the drug pipelines all the way from California and Nevada to Oahu. The government has been aware of this and is trying to tackle the issue.

Drugs involved:

Investigating agencies have found that it is mostly meth and fentanyl which are smuggled into the state. There is also Heroin and Cocaine that are brought into the state.

Also Read: Tour de France updates: Here is a look at Mark Cavendish’ cycling setup worth £180,000

Smuggling methods:

These drugs of arrive in Honolulu which is the state capital through packages and through air traffic. Passengers arriving from different places try to carry it in their luggage and even sometimes carry it on themselves. Some passengers also attempt to smuggle this into Hawaii using their bodies. These drug capsules are often swallowed and are later removed by a special medical operation. Once it arrives in the state capital, it is taken to other places including those that are popular among the tourists.

Business strategy of the cartels:

An official noted that this is a strategy of the cartels not to spare any state and territory of the US. Hawaii is located a bit far away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and for the cartels to target this place, it indicates that there are motives beyond illegal business. The price of these drugs in Hawaii is priced lower than other states in the US. This has increased the demand for these drugs.

Impact:

It is the western part of the Oahu Island which has been most severely impacted by the business activities of these cartels. The local Hawaiian tribes have taken to these drugs and the impact has been most severe among the members of this community. It is also a crime ridden area of the island.

FAQs:

Are there any treatment options in Hawaii to deal with the effects of this addiction?
There is a 75-day program which helps in the process of de-addiction. This program involves many modules including meditation and yoga.

What is the Hawaii five-year plan to deal with drug de-addiction?
It is a comprehensive plan to deal with the issue of drug de-addiction. It came into being in 2022 for a five-year period.