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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 6:45 p.m., Monday, March 19, 2007

Puna men in custody after police raids

Advertiser Staff

 

David Benevides

Hawai'i County police

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Alan "Pele" Peleiholani

Hawai'i County police

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HILO, Hawai'i — Two Puna stepbrothers remain in custody after their homes were raided by police, who allegedly found drugs and firearms.

David Benevides, 31, of 'Opihikao, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for federal prosecution on one count of promoting a harmful drug, two counts each of promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia, and seven firearm offenses.

Alan "Pele" Peleiholani, 22, of Hawaiian Paradise Park, was charged Saturday with promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree, promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree, two drug paraphernalia counts and four firearm offenses. He was released after posting $3,500 bail.

Hawai'i County vice officers executed a search warrant at Peleiholani's home at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, and recovered a small amount of cocaine, some steroid vials and other drug paraphernalia, a shotgun, a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition, police said.

A second search warrant was executed at Benevides' home at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Police found 94 grams of dried marijuana, six marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia, police said. Fourteen marijuana plants were located on an adjoining property with trails leading to the Benevides lot, police said.

Benevides was arrested after he drove up to the property and then fled in his vehicle, which police stopped on Route 137.

Police also search a Kea'au home occupied by the mother of the two men.

There they found a small safe and gun cases containing 60 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 31 grams of cocaine, pills, drug paraphernalia, a shotgun that had previously been reported stolen, two assault rifles, including one with its serial number filed off, and ammunition.