HILO >> State and possibly federal charges are pending against 11 people arrested in raids on three Big Island "ice" houses and during a vehicle stop Wednesday, Big Island police said. Big Island drug raids
net 11 crystal-meth suspectsBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comOfficers found 26 grams of crystal methamphetamine, known as ice, plus smaller amounts of crack cocaine, marijuana and what appeared to be pharmaceutical drugs, they said. They also seized $600 in cash, two handguns and three rifles.
At least one of the persons arrested was a "substantial dealer," acting Lt. Marshall Kanehailua said.
Charges have not been filed because officials must determine if federal charges would apply, instead of state charges, he said.
"We anticipated a lot more," he said. The absence of greater quantities of drugs was a matter of timing, not hitting at a time when large amounts were present, he said.
But the impact of the raids was big because of the arrest of a dealer at an upper midlevel position in the distribution chain, he said.
Eight men and three women were arrested, a police statement said. A baby and a boy were also taken into custody during the raids. The baby was put in the care of state Child Protective Services, and the boy was turned over to his grandparents.
The three raids were carried out in the Puna District south of Hilo, including houses in Fern Forest, Hawaiian Acres and on North Peck Road. The vehicle stop, based on a search warrant, took place in Hilo and resulted in one of the 11 arrests.
Vice officers from Hilo and Kona, members of the Juvenile Aid Section and Special Response Team, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officers participated. County Fire Department paramedics stood by.
Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna said the raids are a continuation of Operation Meltdown, revealed in January when officers conducted eight simultaneous raids, made 21 arrests and seized more than a pound of various drugs plus six firearms.