Big Island task force arrests 17 in ice raids

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The Big Island Police Department's newly formed East Hawai'i Ice Task Force has served 10 search warrants and arrested 17 people over the past three weeks, police said.

While serving the warrants, police confiscated more than six ounces of ice, or crystal methamphetamine, recovered seven firearms, and seized $12,843 in cash, police said.

Officers also confiscated more than five ounces of marijuana, more than an ounce of cocaine and a small amount of heroin as well as 19 oxycodene pills, police said.

Four of the people arrested in the raids have been turned over to federal authorities for federal prosecution, police said.

So far, the East Hawai'i Ice Task Force has one police officer, Detective Marshall Kanehailua, who is working closely with the East Hawai'i Vice Section. Together, they identified possible ice houses in East Hawai'i and obtained the search warrants.

Six of the 10 search warrants were in response to complaints received from the public.

"The Police Department thanks the public for reporting suspected drug activity, and we continue to encourage members of the public to call," said Captain Samuel Thomas, head of the Hawai'i Criminal Investigation Division.

Big Island police are forming two ice task forces, one in East Hawai'i and the other in West Hawai'i, with each task force made up of a detective-sergeant and two senior police officers, Thomas said. He said the department hopes to have the task forces fully staffed next month.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.