55 Charged in Drug Paraphernalia Sales

[DdC]

Washington - Federal authorities charged 55 people Monday with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia from coast to coast, using both traditional stores and the Internet.

A federal grand jury in western Pennsylvania handed up indictments against 27 people as part of "Operation Pipe Dreams," an investigation stretching from Pittsburgh to Phoenix to southern
California, Attorney General John Ashcroft said.

Another nine people were charged in four grand jury indictments returned in Des Moines, Iowa, under "Operation Headhunter," which involved paraphernalia marketed nationwide by distributors in Michigan, California and Texas.

In all, 55 people were named in nearly three dozen indictments returned throughout the country.

Federal law makes it a crime to sell products mainly intended for the use of illegal drugs, including such things as bongs, marijuana pipes, "roach" clips, miniature spoons and scales. Those charged with selling and conspiring to sell such items face up to three years on prison and maximum fines of $250,000.

A search warrant in the Iowa case turned up more than $2 million in illegal paraphernalia, authorities said.

Ashcroft said the sale of drug paraphernalia has exploded on the Internet, making it easier for teenagers and young adults to buy it. The items often are disguised as such things as lipstick cases to escape detection and are marketed under code names and symbols.

"Quite simply, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge," Ashcroft said in a statement. "This illegal, billion-dollar industry will no longer be ignored by law enforcement."

The Internet sites go by such names as Smokelab.com, Aheadcase.com and puffpipes.com, according to the Justice Department.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, Customs Service and Postal Inspection Service.

"People selling drug paraphernalia are in essence no different than drug dealers," said John Brown, acting DEA chief. "They are as much a part of drug trafficking as silencers are a part of criminal homicide."

On The Net:

DEA: <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/dea" target="_blank">http ://www.usdoj.gov/dea</A>
Justice Department: <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov" target="_blank">http ://www.usdoj.gov</A>

55 Charged in Drug Paraphernalia Sales
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15547.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15547.shtml</A>
Source: Associated Press
Author: Curt Anderson, Associated Press
Published: February 24, 2003

CannabisNews - Paraphernalia Archives
<a href="http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/paraphernalia.shtml" target="_blank">http ://cannabisnews.com/news/list/paraphernalia.shtml</A>

Up in Smoke: Feds Bust Online Head Shops
February 24, 2003
By Roy Mark
<a href="http://www.internet.com" target="_blank">http ://www.internet.com</A>
<a href="http://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/1598131" target="_blank">http ://dc.internet.com/news/article.php/1598131</A>

Operators of Web sites selling drug paraphernalia were among the 55 individuals and businesses indicted Monday in a nationwide investigation known as "Operation Pipe Dreams." The defendants are charged with conspiracy to sell, and offering to sell, various types of drug paraphernalia, a federal offense carrying a maximum jail sentence of three years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Federal law defines drug paraphernalia as products primarily intended or designed to be used in ingesting, inhaling or otherwise using controlled substances, and include user-friendly and dealer-friendly devices. Items such as miniature scales, substances for "cutting" or diluting raw narcotics, bongs, marijuana pipes, "roach" clips, miniature spoons and cocaine freebase kits, among other things, are all considered drug paraphernalia.

All the defendants are alleged to have knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully sold the items for use with illegal narcotics. Many of the items were disguised as common objects such as highlighter markers and lipsticks to elude detection as drug paraphernalia and were marketed using code names and symbols.

Web sites names in the indictments include pipesforyou.com, colorchangingglass.c om, puffpipes.com, aheadcase.com, omnilounge.com, 420now.com, Gothicdungeon.com, Testingfree.com, Themallusa.com, and Pipesforyou.com.

"With the advent of the Internet, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has exploded," Attorney General John Ashcroft said at a Washington press conference announcing the indictments. "The drug paraphernalia business is now accessible in anyone's home with a computer and Internet access. And in homes across America we know that children and young adults are the fastest growing Internet users."

Ashcroft added, "The illegal drug paraphernalia industry has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge. This illegal billion-dollar industry will no longer be ignored by law enforcement. Today, (the government) has taken decisive steps to dismantle the illegal drug paraphernalia industry by attacking their physical, financial and Internet infrastructures."

John Brown, Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said people selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet were no different than drug dealers.

"They are as much a part of drug trafficking, as silencers are a part of criminal homicide. These criminals operate a multimillion-dollar enterprise, selling their paraphernalia in headshops, distributing out of huge warehouses, and using the worldwide web as a worldwide paraphernalia market," Brown said. "With Operations Pipe Dreams, these criminals are out of business, and 11 illicit dot.coms are dot.gone."

FEDS Raid Idaho Business' in 8 Cities
February 24, 2003
By Terry Miller
<a href="http://www2.kidktv.com" target="_blank">http ://www2.kidktv.com</A>

Idaho Falls - Local, State and Federal officers began a crackdown on drug paraphenlia dealers across the country today.

The crackdown affected businesses and individuals from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Boise, Nampa, Onatario, Mountain Home, Twin Falls and Burley.

Press conferences in Pocatell and Boise are scheduled for this afternoon. The Pocatello news conference will be carried live by KIDK approximatly 2pm.

Among the departments involved in todays raid wre: DEA, U. S. Marshals Service, Idaho State Police, and the Pocatello and Idaho Falls Police Departments.

Federal prosecutors have charged 55 people with trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia from coast to coast.

They used traditional stores and the Internet to nab sellers of items such as bongs, marijuana pipes, "roach" clips to hold marijuana joints and miniature spoons.

Attorney General John Ashcroft says one operation, dubbed "Operation Pipe Dreams," stretched from Pittsburgh to Phoenix to Southern California.

Federal law makes it a crime to sell products mainly intended for the use of illegal drugs.

Ashcroft says the sale of drug paraphernalia has exploded on the Internet, making it easier for teenagers and young adults to buy it. The items often are disguised as such things as lipstick cases to escape detection and are marketed under code names and symbols.

--- CCLE info@alchemind.org wrote:
******************** ******************** **********
This is Not a Pipe!

Justice Department Goes After "Paraphernalia" Vendors
******************** ******************** **********
In the latest expansion on the "War on Drugs," Attorney General John Ashcroft reported today that the Department of Justice has launched two new major anti-drug operations aimed at targeting companies that sell items that drug users might use to ingest their unapproved drugs. At a press conference held earlier today, Ashcroft proudly announced that "Operation Head Hunter" and "Operation Pipe Dreams," have already resulted in the arrest of 55 people.

Read More at:
<a href="http://www.cognitiveliberty .org/topnews.html" target="_blank">http ://www.cognitiveliberty .org/topnews.html</A>

This is Not a Pipe!


Please forward this message to others who may be interested.

To Subscribe send a blank e-mail to:
cognitiveliberty-subscribe@igc.topica .com

<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/foodfuelfiberfarmace uticals/message/30" target="_blank">Why do YOU think they call it D.E.A.th?</a>

[patriot]

Heil Dubya. Better gas those dangerous criminals in the ovens. Your tax dollars at work against you. If you want to change it, contact me.

[kameelyun]

...and Heil Ashcroft. I agree, let's round up all the people reponsible for online head shops and send them all off to the gas chambers.

Luckily, Jesse Ventura's gonna blow the whistle on this type of shit five nights a week on MSNBC. He is a man of the people. He's given me a glimmer of hope.

[Nevada420]

Phew, thank God all those dangerous roach-clips are off the street! Who knows how many lives have been saved from a horrible death.

[DdC]

Now can we use the "F" word?
FASCIST!!! ¶8)

Subject: 003 ALERT: DEA to Redirect Seized Websites!!
from Ron Bennett

State and federal authorities recently conducted raids of various companies/individuals that sell "drug paraphernalia", such as pipes and related materials. Pipes, etc were seized along with their websites.

According to a Voice of America article, Mr. Ashcroft says they plan to redirect the seized websites to to the DEA website.

A frightening quote from the a Voice of America article:
<a href="http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID =FAAF0B60-2B80-4100-BD255885C43351A6" target="_blank">http ://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID =FAAF0B60-2B80-4100-BD255885C43351A6</A>

"Mr. Ashcroft says customers who want to visit some of their favorite drug paraphernalia websites are in for a big surprise in the days ahead. They will be automatically redirected to the website for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration."

In essence the DEA is going to usurp the freedom of speech and expression of the people who run those seized websites. This would be akin to the U.S. Dept of Justice redirecting the "aclu.org" website to the "usdoj.gov" website.

And then there are the serious privacy issues involved if the DEA redirects the seized websites, since they'll be logging all visitors, obtaining their IP address and other highly personal information.

I encourage everyone here who values the freedom of speech and expression to contact their local ACLU chapter (list can be found at <a href="http://www.aclu.org" target="_blank">http ://www.aclu.org</A> and/or other organizations that works with such issues.

Bottom line is this is a serious issue and if the DEA is able to do this, they could potentially redirect *ANY* website - remember that the owners of the websites seized have *NOT* been convicted of any crime.

Ron Bennett

Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 07:35:34 -0800
From: "D. Paul Stanford" stanford@crrh.org
Subject: 004 Tommy Chong Glass raided

If there was any doubt this was a culture war...

- ---

Cheech and Chong Newsletter said:

Tommy Framed?...Tommy Chong's factory,
Chong Glass, as well as his home in California were raided by the feds today.
<a href="http://www.cheechandchong.c om/newsstories.html" target="_blank">http ://www.cheechandchong.c om/newsstories.html</A>

TOMMY FRAMED? 02.24.2003

Tommy Chong's Chong Glass factory, as well as his home were raided by federal drug agents and other officials today. It was part of a nationwide DEA plan to close companies that manufacture and sell drug paraphernalia. It's unknown if charges have been filed against Chong or Chong Glass. "Those under indictment face a maximum three years in prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, per count, if convicted." The bust was organized by John Ashcroft and the Bush administration. Ironically, President Bush was a major drug user in his youth. It's unknown if he and his wife, Shelby, will still be performing their stand-up act tonight and tomorrow at Laff's in Tucson, AZ.

<a href="http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,11326,00.html?eo l.tkr" target="_blank">http ://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,11326,00.html?eo l.tkr</A>

Feds Smoke Out Chong?
by Joal Ryan
Feb 24, 2003, 4:45 PM PT

Tommy Chong's Chong Glass makes a promise to its customers. All of its products--chiefly, handmade pipes that the Los Angeles Times once wrote "could double as a bong"--are, the company Website says, "for legal blend and tobacco use only." Or maybe not. Chong, once one-half of the high-flying (literally) comedy team, Cheech & Chong, saw his Gardena, California, factory and Pacific Palisades home raided Monday by federal drug agents and other authorities, Los Angeles TV station NBC4 reported.

The Chong sweep was said to be related to nationwide Drug Enforcement Agency-led crackdowns on businesses that trade in what U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft called Monday the "illegal drug paraphernalia industry." The initiatives--dubbed, in the tradition of double-entendre-titled Cheech & Chong flicks, Operation Pipe Dreams and Operation Headhunter--swept up 55 people from California to Florida, with most of the arrests coming in Pennsylvania. Neither Tommy Chong, nor Chong Glass, was named in the indictment.

A message left on Chong Glass' answering machine ("Okay, damn, you just reached Chong Glass," its owner intones on the outgoing message) was not returned Monday.

A DEA official said search warrants were served on Chong's business and home. It was not immediately known what came of the raids. Chong Glass, with its stock of handpipes and hammers and sidecars, is described in the comic's official bio as a family business providing "a unique collection of high-quality, original functional art and signature merchandise." "When he is not at Chong Glass testing the merchandise," his Website notes, Chong, 64, is on the stand-up circuit twice a month with his new partner in gags, wife Shelby.

Chong's show-biz career started smoking in the 1970s when he and Cheech Marin played tie-dyed stoners in a series of pot-joke comedies, such as Up in Smoke. The duo split in 1985. Marin went prime-time, playing Don Johnson's straight-shooting partner in Nash Bridges. Chong continued to bill himself as a hemp advocate and a "born-again doper," playing Hyde's stoner tie-dyed boss on That '70s Show. Last month, Chong's daughter, actress Rae Dawn Chong, told E! Online that she has penned a script aimed at reuniting her father with Marin. Its title: Cheech & Chong Get Blunt.

The people indicted Monday, many of them owners of either real-world retail shops or cyber-space e-commerce sites, were charged with selling items that, the feds say, are "primarily intended or designed to be used in ingesting, inhaling or otherwise using controlled substances." Translation: Bongs, crack pipes, roach clips, miniature spoons. Those under indictment face a maximum three years in prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, per count, if convicted.
- --
"'The United States made us do it' cannot be a sufficient or acceptable justification for the Government to intrude on a fundamental right of Canadians." -- George Radwanski




Dept of Justice Raids: 17 in Idaho/Eastern Oregon
Grand jury indicts 17 from Idaho, eastern Oregon
<a href="http://204.228.236.37/News/story.asp?ID=3D33832 " target="_blank">http ://204.228.236.37/News/story.asp?ID=3D33832 </A>
Dept of Justice Raids: 2 in Eugene
Glass artists netted in nationwide drug paraphernalia bust
<a href="http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=54974" target="_blank">http ://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=54974</A>
Drug-Paraphernalia Traffickers Out of Business
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15555.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15555.shtml</A>
Feds Weed Out Drug Paraphernalia Sites
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15552.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15552.shtml</A>
US Says It Has Cut Off Supplies of Paraphernalia
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15551.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15551.shtml</A>
Feds Crack Down on Drug Paraphernalia
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15550.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15550.shtml</A>
'It's Medicinal' Vies Against 'It's Illegal'
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15549.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15549.shtml</A>
2nd New York Times Article Today!
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15555.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15555.shtml</A>
Washington Post Article
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15554.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15554.shtml</A>
Charges Filed in Online Drug Paraphernalia Sales Case
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.c om/wp-dyn/articles/A59508-2003Feb24.html" target="_blank">http ://www.washingtonpost.c om/wp-dyn/articles/A59508-2003Feb24.html</A>
Liberties Group Opposes Internet Blocking
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.c om/wp-dyn/articles/A33761-2003Feb20.html" target="_blank">http ://www.washingtonpost.c om/wp-dyn/articles/A33761-2003Feb20.html</A>
Center for Democracy & Technology: <a href="http://www.cdt.org" target="_blank">http ://www.cdt.org</A>
Pennsylvania Attorney General: <a href="http://www.attorneygeneral. gov" target="_blank">http ://www.attorneygeneral. gov</A>
Harvard study: <a href="http://cyber.law.harvard.ed u/people/edelman/ip-sharing" target="_blank">http ://cyber.law.harvard.ed u/people/edelman/ip-sharing</A>

[Secret Tweaker]

thats fucked up. i thought they were busting those piece of shit sites that sell scales and other types of stuff, but they busted colorchangingglass.c om??? that was my favorite online head shop and it was just glass pieces. that sucks.

this is whats on the site now...

"The federal government has frozen our bank accounts
and confiscated all of our merchandise & records.
We sincerly hope that this does not cause any of our customers hardship.
Please be patient and we'll post the any new news as it arrives.
We are consulting attorneys at this time to determine our future.
With deep regards'
California Colorchangers Inc.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

[Hooked]

[quote]Originally posted by kameelyun:
[QBLuckily, Jesse Ventura's gonna blow the whistle on this type of shit five nights a week on MSNBC. He is a man of the people. He's given me a glimmer of hope.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

When's this Jesse Program coming? I'm not being scarcastic, I just haven't heard about it anywhere else. I kinda want to see it.

This is bad news, man. Chong? Who could ever want to harm that man? Lot's of fucking bullshit going down, they seized transaction records? Next thing you know they'll be breaking down your door for buying a spoon on-line and freezing your accounts.

[kameelyun]

[quote]Originally posted by Hooked:
<strong>

When's this Jesse Program coming? I'm not being scarcastic, I just haven't heard about it anywhere else. I kinda want to see it.

This is bad news, man. Chong? Who could ever want to harm that man? Lot's of fucking bullshit going down, they seized transaction records? Next thing you know they'll be breaking down your door for buying a spoon on-line and freezing your accounts. </strong><hr></blockquote>


Check it out about Jesse here:

<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/834185.asp#BODY" target="_blank">http ://www.msnbc.com/news/834185.asp#BODY</a>

You're right, hooked. Next thing you know they'll freeze YaHooka because Yahooka advocates using illegal drugs. Freedom of speech apparently only applies to those who agree with state policy, or are rich, or both. All those paraphenalia sites disclaim themselves by saying the products are for legal use only. Asscrotch doesn't accept that. Our Founding Fathers would be appauled.

[DdC]

<a href="http://www.yahooka.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=g et_topic&f=10&t=0028 43" target="_blank">Nati onal Strategy to Secure Cyberspace</a>

Morality is always the product of terror; its chains and strait-waistcoats are fashioned by those who dare not trust others, because they dare not trust themselves, to walk in liberty.

-- Aldous Huxley

[Captain_Koons]

They busted ChangingColorGlass? I was just gonna but a beautiful spoon from there tommorow!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH H!!!! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[GlasssKolector]

Yeah, I can't believe any of this. It effects me hugely since I order from colorchangingglass.c om. I have changed my site to begin adapting to people who have anything to say about all of this. Please visit <a href="http://www.JGEproducts.com" target="_blank">www. JGEproducts.com</a> and follow the email link to voice your concerns on the government or anything partaining to this "paraphernalia" issue. I want to compile opinions and post messages on my site.

Now, instead of using this picture for advertising, I wave it as a flag of anti-censorship and personal liberty:



If bongs and glass pipes are illegal, then why did no one mention this before. Just because some political authority (i.e. Ashcroft, Bush) made this their personal political agenda do overstep their boundaries as an elected official, now innocent people are suffering, indicted on felony charges, and stripped of their businesses and livelihood. FUCK THAT

[evad the prophet]

"...this week's operations were intended solely for us and not for the drug war. Dragging in a lot of kicking and screaming pipe salesmen did not reduce our country's drug user numbers by one person. The same number of people as last week are still in full possession of their drugs. Only those people with cracked bongs hoping to buy a new one will have to make do... or use some of that duct tape sold by one of Mr. Bush's oil company subsidiaries to make a patch."
<a href="http://members.aol.com/deawatch/daily.htm" target="_blank">DEA Watch</a>

i don't remember who originally posted the DEA Watch link, but it was somebody here, let's all thank and praise that person.
It's interesting to note that some real DEAgents seem to know there's something wrong with the WOD, but have not yet figured out the fundemental problem.
The whole thing is so sad

[jini]

Dear NORML Supporter:

Recently the federal government has implemented "Operation Pipe Dreams"
and "Operation Headhunter," which have resulted in the indictment of at
least 50 online paraphernalia distributors.

At a time when our nation is at an elevated risk of a terror attack, it is
preposterous that the U.S. Justice Department would waste limited federal
law enforcement resources chasing after sellers of products such as roach
clips and rolling papers, products which are legally sold at tobacco
stored all across America. These businesses pay taxes and do not in any
way contribute to the crime problem in America. To target them at this
time shows a total lack of understanding as to which risks truly threaten
the health, welfare and safety of America's citizens.

It is time for the Justice Department to reassess its priorities and stop
wasting federal law enforcement resources on such trivial endeavors.
Federal efforts would undoubtedly be better served keeping a bomb out of
the hands of Al Queda than keeping a bong out of the hands of a marijuana
smoker.

Please take five minutes to write John Ascroft and tell him to shut down
"Operation Pipe Dreams" and "Operation Headhunter" by visiting:
<a href="http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1510556&typ e=AN" target="_blank">http ://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=1510556&typ e=AN</a>

Regards,
Kris Krane
Assistant to the Director

[orimba]

This would be tragic if it weren't so funny. It's just another indication of how the drug warriors underestimate the extent to which weed has permeated the culture. To think that they can even reduce, much less eradicate, smoking among the young, old or any other segment of society just by taking away glass pipes and bongs. It merely shows you useless and pointless the drug war is and points out the fact that nothing the government or law enforcement can do will prevent people from doing what they want to do in the privacy of there own homes.

This is the last gasp of the drug war folks. It's almost over.

[Home Wrecker]

This is stupid. With impending wars on Iraq and possibly N. Korea why waste resources at home busting pipe sellers as Bush runs up the deficit in preparation of war.

[jeepster1013]

Their is a big diff. between busting actual drug abusers and head shops. Budget no longer sells pipes in my area and several other privately owned headshops have been made to stop selling pipes etc. This is a rahter fascist move on the part of the bush admin.

[chuckyoufarley]

the feds are probably watching yahooka and if you are watching FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING DOUCHEBAGS THATS YOU ADOLF BUSH AND STALIN ASSCRACK SUCK MY POT SMOKING ASSHOLE :mad S I HAD A JOB IN A PIPE SHOP UNTIL YESTERDAY

[kameelyun]

[quote]Originally posted by chuckyoufarley:
<strong>the feds are probably watching yahooka and if you are watching FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING DOUCHEBAGS THATS YOU ADOLF BUSH AND STALIN ASSCRACK SUCK MY POT SMOKING ASSHOLE :mad S I HAD A JOB IN A PIPE SHOP UNTIL YESTERDAY</strong><hr></blockquote>

The name of our president is... say it with me... ADOLF W. HITLER.