Drug sweep cheered
by neighborsPolice in Hilo execute 11 search
warrants and arrest 19 people
HILO >> Police arrested 19 people yesterday in a drug sweep by 58 county, state and federal law enforcement officers in East Hawaii.
The raids were called Operation Meltdown III, a reference to previous Meltdown raids in January and April last year.
Police conceded they found only small amounts of drugs, but declared the operation a success in putting a dent in the drug business.
"The operation had a huge impact on the community in shutting down several ice houses and illegal drug operations," said Capt. Samuel Thomas.
"In fact, neighbors cheered when our officers busted an ice house in Panaewa," he said.
Using standard procedures, officers ran into the house shouting, "Police! Police!" Thomas said. As officers emerged with suspects in custody, neighbors started clapping and cheering, he said. "That really boosted the morale of our officers," he said.
Police confiscated a half-ounce of crystal methamphetamine, about two grams of heroin, 111 marijuana plants and a number of pills, they said.
Police also seized drug paraphernalia, three firearms, two motorcycles, a 2004 Toyota sedan and $3,385 in cash.
Police said they would seek federal prosecution for the firearm offenses.
The 19 suspects were detained overnight at holding cells in Hilo while police investigated potential state charges, Thomas said.
Eleven search warrants were executed during the sweep, including at AK Pizza in Pahoa.
Other warrants were executed at a home in Puna, four homes and a vehicle in Hilo, two homes in the Laupahoehoe area and two homes in Hamakua.
Police arrested 11 people in Hilo, four in Puna, two in the North Hilo district and two in Hamakua.
The Hawaii County Police Department; the state Narcotics Enforcement Division; the federal Drug Enforcement Agency; the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the interagency High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force took part in the raids, as well as police officers from Honolulu, Maui and Kauai.
The first Operation Meltdown in January 2003 resulted in 21 arrests with 10.5 ounces of crystal methamphetamine and 13.3 ounces of cocaine among the seizures.
Six firearms and $6,083 in cash were recovered.
Operation Meltdown II in April netted 11 arrests, 26 grams of crystal meth, five firearms and $600 in cash.