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Police make first bust
By Jaymes K. Song
under new drug law
Star-BulletinAuthorities used a new law to arrest four suspects at a Waianae home last week that is believed to be a clandestine drug laboratory.
The case is the first to use the new law that allows law enforcement to make an arrest for possession of the chemicals used to illegally manufacture methamphetamines, officials said today.
Before the law went into effect, authorities would have to actually see the suspects "cooking" the drugs to prove that they were producing the methamphetamines to sell it.
"It gives us a little more muscle," said Ed Howard of the state Narcotics Enforcement Division.
A gas mask, crystal and liquid methamphetamines, marijuana, acetone, laboratory flasks, glass "ice" pipes, tubing and hundreds of tablets of Sudafed and Actifed were seized in the Jan. 13 raid at 85-779 Waianae Valley Road.
Three women and one man were arrested following the raid, said Keith Kamita, the director of state narcotics enforcement.
The suspected ringleader of the operation, Kenneth K. Ana, who goes by "Fongie," is still at large.
The bust was the result of a nine-month investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement.
If the suspects are convicted under the new law, they face a $100,000 fine and/or 10 years in prison.
