bigislandnow.com: https://bigislandnow.com/2026/05/23/tokuda-case-introduce-measure-aimed-at-cracking-down-on-illegal-fireworks-trafficking/

Speaker: —
Subject: T000487
Source: GDELT news · original
Published: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Article will play after ad... Playing in :00 A A A U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, both Hawaiʻi Democrats, introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks by allowing prosecutors to pursue money laundering charges against criminals moving illegal fireworks across state lines.

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Tokuda, Case introduce measure aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks trafficking : Big Island Now Search Aloha, ! My Profile | Logout Aloha, Guest! Login | Register News Topics Front Page Big Island News Ironman Business Big Island Polls Local Discussion Entertainment Guest Columns Community COVID-19 Updates Hawai‘i Sports Hawai‘i Volcano Blog Ocean Blog Obituaries Weather & Surf Weather Forecast Surf Report Lifestyle & Culture Entertainment Community ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi / Hawaiian Language Hawai‘i Activities Visitors' Guide Merrie Monarch Obituaries Job Listings Recent Job Listings Post a Job Events Calendar Upcoming Events Map of Events Special Sections Merrie Monarch IRONMAN Opioid Crisis &times; Close Menu About Big Island Now Newsletter Contact Us Get the App Advertising Meet the Team Choose Your Island: Kauai Maui Big Island Copyright &copy; 2026 Pacific Media Group All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Search Aloha, ! My Profile | Logout Aloha, Guest! Login | Register Sections Big Island News Weather Events Calendar Jobs Obituaries Graduations Entertainment Visitors' Guide Hawai'i State News Tokuda, Case introduce measure aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks trafficking May 23, 2026, 8:00 AM HST --> Play Listen to this Article 3 minutes Loading Audio... Article will play after ad... Playing in :00 A A A U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, both Hawaiʻi Democrats, introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks by allowing prosecutors to pursue money laundering charges against criminals moving illegal fireworks across state lines. A confiscated homemade mortar tube with illegal aerial fireworks loaded and ready to launch. (File Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement) Federal law now carries a maximum prison sentence of only 1 year for those convicted of trafficking illegal fireworks. Case called that punishment completely insufficient. It does nothing to deter the criminal activity when compared with profits realized. The proposed Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act would increase the maximum prison time for such an offense to 20 years, which the lawmakers say is a far more consequential sentence for such a highly harmful activity. “Our legislation addresses the source dealers in illegal fireworks who engage in large-scale national criminal enterprise that threatens public safety, fuels illicit financial activity and has devastated communities in Hawai‘i and across the country,” said Case in a release outlining the proposed legislation. The District 1 congressman said illegal fireworks trafficking involves sophisticated interstate operations that are highly profitable black market networks, often moving illegal fireworks across state lines for years and making substantial criminal proceeds. “For too long, the punishment for trafficking illegal fireworks has not matched the danger these criminal operations pose to our communities,&#8221; said Tokuda in the release

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