An anti-drug task force that played a major role in this week's crystal meth arrest of a Leilehua High School teacher has recorded a series of knockouts since being created eight months ago, officials said yesterday.

The Hawai'i Rapid Reduction Drug Unit has produced 30 federal and seven state drug arrests, seized 35 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 5 pounds of cocaine, 11 firearms, five vehicles and $710,000 from February through September.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and Anthony "Tony" Williams, assistant special agent in charge of Drug Enforcement Administration operations in Hawai'i, spearheaded the formation of the joint federal, state and city law enforcement task force.

It was a deputy sheriff assigned to the drug unit who posed as the buyer in the investigation and arrest of Leilehua High special-education teacher Lee Anzai, officials said.

Other significant task force investigations resulted in convictions of Rudy Generalao, who has admitted to controlling ice distribution from Nanakuli to Wai'anae; Jarret Kaneshiro's organization, which included career criminals Bryan Higa, Marvin Quemado and Denny Quiambao; and another group with Oakland, Calif.-based Alejandro Panares supplying ice and crack cocaine to Hawai'i dealers Joseph Tomo, Linda Masuda and Henry Liu.

Aiona said the drug unit was organized to address a common community complaint that law enforcement agencies do not respond when drug activity is reported. "It has not disappointed," Aiona said of the unit.

The Rapid Reduction Drug Unit's full-time core group consists of three deputy sheriffs from the state Public Safety Department, two Honolulu police officers, one agent each from the FBI, Immigration & Customs Enforcement and DEA, and also a part-time DEA agent, Williams said. All have DEA enforcement powers, Williams said.

"The key here is the public should know their calls and complaints matters and are not falling on deaf ears," Williams said. "We want them to know we will protect you. Our investigations are designed to be swift and impact communities."

The Rapid Reduction Drug Unit is among the many joint task forces under the umbrella of Hawai'i High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program.

By targeting the distribution network and not just top-level players, the drug unit is helping to take out what Williams calls "individuals who have been flying under the federal radar for years."

The distribution network includes many players involved in burglaries, thefts, robberies, auto thefts, identity thefts, extortion and fraud, federal officials said.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.