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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 7, 2007

O'ahu, Vegas ice raids net 7 suspects

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police and federal agents yesterday arrested seven people on O'ahu and in Las Vegas in coordinated raids on a suspected narcotics cartel that allegedly shipped more than $350,000 worth of crystal meth-amphetamine from Las Vegas to Honolulu.

Three men were arrested in Las Vegas, and four others in Pupukea and Wahiawa, after an indictment accused the group of conspiring to ship more than 10 pounds of ice to Honolulu to sell for profit, according to a law enforcement official and documents filed in U.S. District Court.

The shipments allegedly took place over a two-year period, from March 2005 to May 31.

The arrests began before 5 a.m. on O'ahu yesterday and involved more than a dozen federal agents and police. The indictments were handed down May 31.

Assistant U.S. attorney Susan Cushman, who is prosecuting the case for the federal government, confirmed the arrests on O'ahu yesterday but declined further comment.

Charged in the 10-count indictment are Nelson Gaitan-Ayala, John Eduardo Ayala, Hector Cruz, Wilsonis Ayala, Raychel Cabral, Roxanne Bates and Ryan J. Ikeda. They are charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.

The suspects allegedly sold meth on 10 occasions to undercover federal agents and cooperating individuals.

Using court-authorized wiretaps, federal agents monitored telephone conversations among Gaitan-Ayala, Eduardo Ayala and Raychel Cabral as they allegedly arranged for the shipment of meth from Las Vegas into Ho-nolulu.

The group allegedly shipped the drugs into Honolulu using air-parcel services and within other items shipped through the mail.

In the most recent alleged sale, on March 23, Gaitan-Ayala, Cruz and Ikeda allegedly sold a pound of crystal methamphetamine to a person cooperating with authorities, according to the indictment.

In the largest alleged sale, Gaitan-Ayala, Eduardo Ayala, Cruz and Cabral sold six pounds of ice to the individual on Nov. 17, 2006, according to court documents.

Ikeda, 27, is a convicted felon with four prior arrests, including on charges of drunken driving and breaking into a car, according to court records.

Bates, 28, also is a convicted felon and was placed on probation for five years on May 17 for using a firearm during commission of a separate felony.

She was arrested last year after she was found in possession of a handgun during a drug raid at an O'ahu home.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.