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Attorney General John Ashcroft at Operation Pipe Dreams news conference. Appearing from left to right: Acting DEA Administrator John B. Brown, ONDCP Director John Walters, and U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan. Operations
Pipe Dreams And Headhunter Put Illegal Drug Paraphernalia Sellers Out
Of Business
WASHINGTON, DC -- Attorney General John Ashcroft and Acting DEA Administrator John B. Brown, III today announced the indictment of 50 individuals on charges of trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. The charges are the culmination of two nationwide investigations code-named Operation Pipe Dreams and Operation Headhunter and include indictments against national distributors of drug paraphernalia and businesses nationwide. DEA offices in Boise, Idaho; Des Moines, Iowa; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Dallas and Tyler, Texas were involved in these investigations. "With the advent of the Internet, the illegal drug paraphernalia industry has exploded," Ashcroft said. "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. Quite simply, 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 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson and Associate Deputy Attorney General Karen Tandy, has taken decisive steps to dismantle the illegal drug paraphernalia industry by attacking their physical, financial and Internet infrastructures." Click here for full press release>> Click here for federal laws related to this case>> Click here for clip of DEA Acting Administrator John B. Brown III speaking at the press conference>> (Transcript: "One important facet of this case is the use of the Internet by drug paraphernalia marketers. There's no easier way to reach young people--and to get around their parents--than through the Internet. It takes a lot of hard work to get at these sites. But we can assure worried parents that today there are 11 dot.coms that are dot.gone." Images from Internet sites follow the speech excerpt.)
Drug Paraphernalia Tools of the Illegal Drug Trade What is drug paraphernalia?
User-specific products are marketed to drug users to assist them in taking or concealing illegal drugs. These products include certain pipes, smoking masks, bongs, cocaine freebase kits, marijuana grow kits, roach clips, and items such as hollowed out cosmetic cases or fake pagers used to conceal illegal drugs. Dealer-specific products are used by drug traffickers for preparing illegal drugs for distribution at the street level. Items such as scales, vials, and baggies fall into this category. Drug paraphernalia does not include any items traditionally used with tobacco, like pipes and rolling papers. Click here to view entire drug paraphernalia factsheet>> Click here for federal law regarding drug paraphernalia>>
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Drug
paraphernalia is any legitimate equipment, product, or material that
is modified for making, using, or concealing illegal drugs such as cocaine,
heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia generally
falls into two categories: 
