Police ice task force arrests 2 on Big Island

Advertiser Staff

The ice task force of the Big Island Police Department this week made two unrelated arrests, charging one man and turning over another to federal authorities for prosecution.

A Puna resident was arrested Monday on suspicion of nine drug counts and one firearms offense. Drugs confiscated included nearly 11 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 4 grams of "crack" cocaine and 41.2 grams of marijuana, police said.

Police and federal agents referred the case to the U.S. attorney for prosecution under the Project Safe Neighborhood law. This law allows for federal prosecution when a drug user possesses firearms or ammunition.

And on Wednesday, police said, they arrested Hilo resident Bill Kamoku on suspicion of three drug offenses after they confiscated 2.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 10.3 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and drug packaging material.

Kamoku was being held in lieu of $4,500 bail pending arraignment.

The Hawai'i Police Department also announced that both of its three-man ice task forces on the east and west sides of the island were fully staffed as of Nov. 1. Anyone with information about crystal-meth distribution can call the Hilo hotline at (808) 934-8423 or Kona at (808) 329-0423.