Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

While the number of drug arrests remained steady last year, Maui police reported a surge in gambling arrests, most involving cockfighting, in 2006. The total of 165 gambling arrests, which increased by 79 percent from 92 arrests in 2005, was due largely to 155 cockfighting arrests last year, according to preliminary police statistics for 2006. At a Maui County Police Commission meeting Wednesday, Capt. Gerald Matsunaga said the large number of cockfighting arrests stemmed from police action after developing intelligence that two organizations were trying to step in to such illegal operations on Maui. Matsunaga, who heads the Vice Division, said two organizations that previously ran cockfights on Maui were "totally dismantled" in 2004 when 35 people were indicted following a yearlong undercover investigation called "Operation Down The Hatch." The two groups had organized cockfights involving thousands of dollars in bets at the old Maui High School campus at Hamakuapoko, Old Maui Block in Waikapu and at the Kahului end of the drag strip at Maui Raceway Park in Puunene. In 2005, police reported making 67 cockfighting arrests before the number of arrests more than doubled last year. Matsunaga said police had information that one cockfighting group was bringing people from Oahu to Maui and cited "quite a few arrests of people from the island of Oahu" last year. Maui County police reported 382 drug arrests last year, about the same as the 386 in 2005. The amount of crystal methamphetamine seized by police increased from 12.5 pounds in 2005 to 16.25 pounds last year. The seizures included 29 grams of ice recovered Dec. 19 when Lanai patrol officers and vice officers executed a search warrant in Lanai City, said police Assistant Chief Wayne Ribao. He said police also recovered more than $11,000 cash in the search. "For such a small island, that hopefully will make quite an impact," Ribao said. Nestor R. Raqueno, 46, of Lanai City was arrested and released after posting $24,000 bail on charges of two counts each of second-degree methamphetamine trafficking and possessing drug paraphernalia. Court records show Raqueno had drug and other charges dismissed in October 2003 after he successfully completed the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision.

Matsunaga said the amount of drugs seized by police "might not be indicative of what's happening out on the streets."

While recent news reports have cited an increase in cocaine arrests and seizures, Matsunaga said the 5.5 pounds of the drug seized in Maui County last year compared with 10.5 pounds seized in 2005, 3.1 pounds in 2004 and 14.25 pounds in 2003.

"In Maui County, we don't think it's on its way back," he said. "We think it never left."

For the first time, Matsunaga said police saw a decrease in marijuana plants recovered, largely through Green Harvest operations.

Last year, 44,452 marijuana plants were confiscated, down from 82,332 plants in 2005. The seizure of processed marijuana increased, however, from 24 pounds in 2005 to 36.5 pounds last year.

In the last few years, Matsunaga said police have seen more marijuana imported into the county, mostly from the West Coast and Canada. He said the increase in imported marijuana is probably due to the success of marijuana eradication efforts.

Police also have seen an increase in indoor marijuana-growing operations, Matsunaga said. Last year, police found nine indoor-growing operations, up from one in 2005.

Heroin "might be on its way back," Matsunaga said, citing statistics showing the seizure of 11.5 ounces of the drug last year, compared with 6 grams in 2005.