Operation Wipeout

US Army, Pacific and Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers combined to provide support to Hawaii and federal DLEAs during Operation Wipeout in the early 1990s. Working together, these forces succeeded in eliminating more than 90 percent of Hawaii's visible marijuana crop, valued at more than $6 billion. Operation Wipeout (DEA-State of Hawaii) was one of a number of large counter-marijuana operations initiated in 1990 with ONDCP encouragement. The operation implemented the National Drug Control Strategy by attempting to reduce the supply of drugs, and demonstrated to Andean Ridge nations the US commitment to the counterdrug effort within its own borders. The operation used military intelligence techniques to photograph the state for possible growing sites, and Green Berets and Army Special Forces helped train local officers.