Police raids on Big Island
net drugs and 8 arrests

KAILUA-KONA » Big Island police said they arrested eight people and charged five of them with offenses related to dealing crystal methamphetamine following a series of raids in West Hawaii last week.

They also seized two ounces of the drug, known as "ice," small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, drug paraphernalia, prescription pills and a firearm.

Police also confiscated $16,357 in cash and seized three vehicles for possible forfeiture, they said.

Officers executed the first of 10 search warrants on Wednesday, arresting Joseph Jardine III, 36, and Emma Yates, 21, both of Holualoa.

Jardine and Yates were charged with promoting dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jardine was held in lieu of $14,600 bail; Yates, in lieu of $4,000.

Both were already free on bail for previous drug offenses, and both were charged with violating conditions of their release.

Also on Wednesday, Tammy Lyn Ayau, 37, of Kailua-Kona was arrested and charged with promoting dangerous drugs and paraphernalia. She is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

On Thursday, police arrested Noe Jim Raquinio, 24, at his home in Kailua-Kona and charged him with promoting dangerous drugs and paraphernalia. He was held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Another man and a woman at the house, both 29, were also arrested but released.

On Friday, police arrested Melvin Deperalta, 48, at his home in Naalehu and charged him with promoting a dangerous drug, a detrimental drug and paraphernalia.

Firearms charges are pending against him, police said. He was held in lieu of $8,050. A woman, 42, was also arrested at the house and then released.

Detective Derrik Diego said arrests resulted from tips from the public to the Ice Tip Hotlines, 329-0423 in Kona and 934-8423 in Hilo.