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SITUATION IN GUAM - 7TH MARCH 1978

NCJ Number
59489
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Issue: 327 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 94-100
Author(s)
P A E MANIBUSAN
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY ON GUAM DESCRIBED THE ISLAND'S DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS IN AN ADDRESS TO A 1978 CONFERENCE FOR ALUMNI OF THE U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION SCHOOL.
Abstract
FEDERAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO GUAM, A U.S. TERRITORY, WERE LIFTED IN 1962, AND IN 1968 THE GUAM POLICE FIRST ENCOUNTERED EVIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE. DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT, LARGE NUMBERS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL CAME TO GUAM AND PRODUCED A LOCAL MARKET FOR NARCOTICS. GUAM BECAME A MIDPOINT FOR SHIPPING DRUGS TO HAWAII AND THE U.S. THE SHARP RISE IN CRIME IN 1972 ALERTED OFFICIALS TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DRUG PROBLEM, AND STEPS WERE TAKEN TO ESTABLISH TREATMENT CENTERS. MOST ADDICTS WERE MILITARY PERSONNEL AT THIS TIME. BY 1976, CRIME HAD CONTINUED TO INCREASE SHARPLY AND THE PROPORTION OF CIVILIAN TO MILITARY DRUG USERS HAD RISEN. HEROIN ADDICTION AMONG TEENAGERS WAS AN ACUTE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, GUAM HAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST ADDICT PER CAPITA RATE IN THE U.S., AND ITS POLICE OFFICERS FEEL THAT MOST OF THE ISLAND'S CRIME IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO DRUGS. ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS HAD BEEN FRAGMENTED BETWEEN VARIOUS CIVILIAN AND MILITARY AGENCIES, BUT IN 1976 THE GOVERNOR INITIATED A PROJECT TO COORDINATE ENFORCEMENT AND TARGET MAJOR DEALERS FOR ARREST. UNTIL FUNDING REQUESTS ARE APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN FINANCED BY LOCAL SOURCES. THE SMALL SIZE OF GUAM'S ISLAND SOCIETY POSES PROBLEMS FOR POLICIES; UNDERCOVER WORK IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, AND CLOSE TIES WITH FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS INHIBIT COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS ARE SCARCE SINCE MOST LAWYERS PREFER PRIVATE PRACTICE. THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION HAS PROVIDED INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE IN INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION, AND TRAINING AND PREPARING CASES FOR PROSECUTION. GUAM NEEDS NEW LAWS TO PERMIT ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, DETAIN DRUG ADDICTS FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION, AND MANDATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE IS ALSO NEEDED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE STRICT INSPECTION OF BOTH ALL PERSONS ENTERING GUAM AND THE MAILS. (MJM)