The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-01-29
PLENTY
BUT HARD TO CATCH.
illicit Drug Sellers Have Such
Wei Perfected Systems Cap
ture Is Near Impossible

.. investigation of the machinery If
the Honolulu underworld OF vice, which
Is being pushed by city and federal au.
thCIities have revealed syateu,s q
operation especially in the sale of
1ruqs, which would do credit to the
hunts Of Paris Apaches, II Is said.
The first law Of the Illicit business
is that Of "safety first y which makes
the trailing of the offenders a we'll
nigh impossible accomplishment II has
been found that the street agents OF
these sellers Of drugs are so willy that
It is impossible TO trick them into max.
ing any of the well.known signs to any
but user Of the dope.
They seem to have some form of
uneanny recognition Of reach other
which cannot be unearthed by an I'M
initiated person." said one of the Of
fcials in charge of the vice hunt, yes
terday. "No matter what the langu-
age may he these men seem to under.
stand each other at sight and IL Is
very rarely that one of the agents
Who are known to be on the streets Mt
all hours can be tricked into revealing
himself" ..l
According to information that has
been secured. the "high sign of the
lope users seems to consist of a steady
'ook in the eye which is exchanged by
he purchaser Of drugs and the agents
VI dealers. Snowbirds" as they, are
,ermed by the police, are reputed to
rave various marks Of Identification
nut il Is only the expert in this parti-
,ular line who is able to distinguish
one Of the users of the drugs, and thus.
~ means of tireless shadowing, at last
dnd where he is getting the stuff.
Many Dealers Here Ne -
Honolulu Is reported to contain deal.
YRS in plenty in every known contra
1and drug. Most of these are Orientals
who have means Of getting il from the
orient or of manufacturing IL here.
That the use of drugs among the sol.
iiers has grown to alarming proper
ions Is declared by those who are the
nstigators of the cleanup. Most of
he places where "hopn is sold are in
he rear of small Chinese business es-
ablishnlents of various kinds, chiefly
n the vicinity of River Street.
HHop" sold by the Honolulu deal
RS is furnished in various forms. from
mall pellets to bottles and powders.
Z has no mark of any manufacturer
IN it and nothing to give the slight
st evidence where II was made The
packages which the purchaser carried
way with him are disguised in every
onceivable form, usually in sueh a
manner as will correspond with the
nature of the ostensible business of the
lealer.
familiarity Essential
Even wheA n man has succeeded in
aiming the attention Of the street
gent, il has been learned, the first
ign of ,unfamiliarity with the use or
handling Of. the drug is sufficient to
ring stop to the sale at once. There
re many signs by which the agent
an tell novice from an old timer and
e beginner in the use of the drugs
6 to make purchases on his own hook
no must be thoroughly instructed and
vested in advance by some person who
tnows. .n<
After the proper Identification and
| certifying of the prospective purchaser,
| ivery means is employed to escort him
% the place of sale with all possible
'ecrecy, the only outward sign being a
straight look in the eye and then an
innoceut appearing visit 30 tailor
shop or laundry nearby.
Persons who have given information
have usually come into possession Of
Il through accidental association with
ZONE soldier or other user Of the drugs,
snd frequently, it is said, have great
Gear Of the consequences that may at
tend any statements made by them
selves.
Officials say that the sale Of drugs is
he most difficult thing of all to trace
and yet they are determined to root
nut the illicit business. Evidence Is
,lEeAdy at the disposal of federal agents
which promises results within n short
time.