9 arrested in three Big Island drug raids, police say

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police uncovered a methamphetamine lab and arrested five people in a raid on a home in the rural Nanawale Estates subdivision in Lower Puna on Wednesday.

Four other people were arrested in separate raids in Hilo and Puna Wednesday and Saturday.

In the Nanawale raid, East Hawai'i vice officers served a search warrant at 1:40 p.m. and discovered a clandestine lab at a home on O'ahu Road.

Police said they recovered drug-making materials, including a variety of chemicals, and handwritten notes on chemical recipes and equipment setups. Also seized were pipes and other suspected drug paraphernalia, marijuana and handwritten drug payment notes.

Two men and three women, ranging in age from 39 to 53, were arrested and were being held in the Hilo police cellblock.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, police executed a search warrant on 'Ainako Drive in Hilo and seized nearly 2 ounces of heroin, 2 ounces of crystal methamphetamine, 15 methadone tablets and 25 OxyContin tablets. Officers also seized a rifle with a silencer, 12 ounces of dried marijuana, 24 marijuana plants and $2,410 in cash.

A 45-year-old man was arrested. He was being held yesterday in the Hilo police cellblock.

On Saturday, officers served search warrants in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Puna and uncovered two marijuana greenhouse operations.

Three men were arrested at a home on Road 2 where marijuana was being cultivated both indoors and in an outdoor greenhouse. Officers then obtained two more search warrants for an adjoining property and a vehicle, and uncovered another greenhouse operation.

Police said seizures included 43 pounds of processed marijuana and branches, and 2.7 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms.

One suspect, Michael Barnes, 47, was taken to O'ahu, where he is facing federal prosecution. The other two men, ages 21 and 26, were released but face possible federal charges, police said.