5 arrested in drug raid at Kaua'i complex
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
KOLOA, Kaua'i — Police credit angry neighbors with identifying a Koloa apartment complex where they say crystal methamphetamine, or ice, was being sold.
Teams of police officers from several islands, supported by a Drug Enforcement Administration helicopter on loan from the Green Harvest marijuana eradication program, executed search warrants on the three apartments in the Kawailehua state rental apartment complex at dawn yesterday.
Five adults — two men and three women — were arrested, each on multiple drug charges. One of the men, for whom police had an outstanding warrant, was not a resident, but apparently had been sleeping over. The names of those arrested were not released yesterday.
The drug buyers involved in the case all seemed to be adults, said Lt. Ale Quibilan, of the Kaua'i Police Department vice squad.
Information collected on the operation indicated that both men and women were selling the drugs. As many as 10 children lived in the three targeted apartments, all of which were found to contain quantities of ice, police said.
"The mothers. The mothers were dealing," Quibilan said.
The complex is a stone's throw from Koloa Elementary School.
State Child Protective Services officials assisted in placing the children with relatives or in foster care.
Some neighbors were jubilant about the police bust.
"That's how. Get 'em all. Good job! Bust them all," yelled one man driving out of the neighboring Pa'anau rental project.
County public information officer Cyndi Ozaki said that in addition to the ice found in the three apartments, police found marijuana in two of the dwellings. One man was arrested in possession of a pipe used for smoking ice, police said.
Police said they believe the people in the three apartments were working together.
"We feel there is a connection. There appears to be an organization within this complex," Quibilan said.
Quibilan said police have been investigating the case for three months.
"There was heavy traffic coming in every night. These people don't work. As long as you call up, they're here," he said.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
