Final numbers for drug activity statewide support a prediction that crystal methamphetamine arrests would plummet, even as cocaine activity picked up, according to federal and local law officials.

"The large quantity of crystal methamphetamine entering the Islands a few years ago has been disrupted, and we have therefore seen the price of ice increase dramatically," said Charles L. Goodwin, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Honolulu division. "It also appears that the strict federal statutes imposing lengthy mandatory minimum sentences on those who sell crystal methamphetamine had a positive effect in discouraging the sale of ice in Hawai'i."

But the progress against meth has been tempered by a resurgence in cocaine activity, Goodwin said.

"Unfortunately, during the past year we saw cocaine prices drop, indicating that many drug dealers have changed their tactics and are now importing and selling cocaine in the Islands," he said.

Law enforcement agencies now are concentrating efforts on breaking up the operations that continue to smuggle drugs here.

Much of the methamphetamine and cocaine coming into the state is being smuggled by drug cartels in Mexico, according to Anthony D. Williams, assistant special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Honolulu district office.

"The numbers are still very high for the Mexican sources as related to Honolulu," Williams said. "We are going to continue with our same direction of targeting organizations, and we are putting our emphasis on organizations with violent tendencies. We'll attack the financial infrastructure and follow the money.

"This year we are going to be taking all the toys from these criminals."

WAR ON ICE

Crystal methamphetamine, or ice, was the scourge of the state four years ago, prompting an unprecedented groundswell of grassroots advocacy and legislative activity at the state and local level. The highly addictive and destructive nature of the drug and the crimes it spawned shocked the community and spurred law enforcement to collaborate in new ways.

Now, the word is out that possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, its salts or its isomers will result in a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison.

According to police, 71 pounds of ice were seized and 413 arrests were made on O'ahu from January to November last year. Those numbers are down from the 188 pounds seized and 719 arrests made in 2005.

Drug smugglers and distributors who once imported and sold ice in the state are turning to cocaine, officials said.

Law enforcement officials credit a collaborative effort and a greater awareness on the part of the community for the downturn in ice arrests but caution that the potency of the drug in the Islands is still very high.

"It's a result of doing all of the right things," said Honolulu police Maj. Kevin Lima, who supervises the department's narcotics vice division. "The coordination with other agencies, the changing of laws both state and federal ... We also dismantled more drug trafficking organizations. That's what happens when all those stars and moons align, and I think that's what happened last year."

COCAINE RESURGENCE

Even as officials are welcoming the drop in ice activity, they are warily watching the resurgence of cocaine.

"We are seeing a return to cocaine," said Maui Deputy Police Chief Gary Yabuta. "We're not sure if it is just time for the popularity to return."

Cocaine arrests in Honolulu hit a five-year high, spurred by a reaction to the rising cost of crystal methamphetamine and law enforcement pressure on ice crimes. Arrests and seizures in Hawai'i County and Maui County also increased, police said.

Through Nov. 30, 2006, Honolulu police made 227 cocaine arrests, compared with 135 in 2005, 214 in 2004, 182 in 2003 and 100 in 2002.

In 2005, Hawai'i County police seized 6,035.39 grams of cocaine while making 61 cases and 44 arrests. Those numbers jumped to 14,587 grams, 96 cases, and 78 arrests last year.

"Cocaine used to be the rich man's party drug way back when. It's amazing; it seems like cocaine is coming back as the drug of choice," said Hawai'i County Deputy Police Chief Harry Kubojiri.

"It's almost like going backwards in time," he said. "It used to be marijuana and cocaine, then it was ice, now it's marijuana and cocaine.

"Hopefully ice stays away but we'll see. You don't see the level of violence whereas crystal methamphetamine is highly addictive, and a lot of our violent crimes and property crimes are associated with crystal methamphetamine because users need to get that fix."

The price of an ounce of cocaine has remained steady at $1,300, but police are making more arrests and federal officials are noticing increased attempts to smuggle the drug into the state.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.