Police Sgt. John Kauwenaole, supervisor of the Kalihi/Downtown Weed & Seed District, said the indictments stem from a six-month undercover investigation into drug dealing on and around Hikina Lane, a narrow roadway 'ewa of the Kalihi-Palama Health Center. The area is within 1,000 feet of Ka'iulani Elementary School. Dealing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school is a federal crime.

"These guys are facing a federal hammer, a minimum sentence of one year in prison if convicted," Kauwenaole said.

"It hasn't been as open and blatant as the Pua Lane days, but it's still there, and (enforcement) needs to be maintained," Kauwenaole said. He was referring to drug dealing around Mayor Wright Housing before the Weed & Seed District was established in January 1998.

Each of the indictment's 15 counts represents a drug sale to an undercover officer during the six-month investigation. Kauwenaole said crystal meth was being dealt in front of 940 Hikina Lane, a three-story apartment building. Apartments A and B, which are the units closest to the lane, were raided today by police.

Sgt. Teddy Chun, supervisor of the Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit, said police found about 3 ounces of crystal meth in a safe in unit B, and drug paraphernalia in both apartments.

The roundup began last night with the arrest of a 20-year-old man at 7:30 p.m. on North King Street, across from Hikina Lane.

Two other men, ages 32 and 50, who are named in the indictment, were arrested at 6:15 a.m. today at Hikina Lane. The older man was taken to The Queen's Medical Center after experiencing a high pulse rate. All three will be turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service later today.

Drugs were being sold on North King Street between Hikina and Auld lanes. Chun said people were coming to the apartments to pick up drugs or selling them on the streets.

Elsie Kanae, who has lived on Hikina Lane for 30 years, said residents organized a Neighborhood Watch program last year and complained to police about drug activity on Hikina.

The six-month investigation was a response to community complaints, noted Kauwenaole.

"They were doing it in the open, on the streets," Kanae said of the drug dealing.