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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 10:42 p.m., Monday, December 22, 2008

Kalihi police bust two meth-dealing operations

Advertiser Staff

Police in Kalihi Monday arrested seven people in busting two suspected crystal methamphetamine dealing operations going on near elementary schools.

Both busts by the Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit were the result of ongoing undercover operations.

Police tonight arrested a woman employee of Club 77 at 1822 Republican St. and three men on suspicion of meth trafficking. The bar is located within 1,000 feet of Pu'uhale School, Kalihi District Maj. Kurt Kendro said.

One of the male suspects was arrested this morning, another is in custody for an unrelated offense at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center and a third was arrested tonight, said Kendro.

The four suspects could face federal prosecution because of the proximity of Pu'uhale school to the bar.

Earlier Monday, retiring Sgt. Teddy Chun's CRU officers capped an investigation into community complaints of drug dealing near Kalihi Uka School with the arrests of two men and a woman.

One man, 36-year-old Angelo Madamba Pasamonte of Kalihi Valley, was arrested at his workplace in Wahiawa at 8:30 a.m. on suspicion of second-degree meth trafficking and is being held on outstanding misdemeanor warrants of $500 and $100.

A 37-year-old male suspect was arrested 90 minutes earlier on Laumaile and Kalihi streets for meth trafficking. The man, who listed no permanent local address at booking, has eight prior criminal convictions.

The woman, 45, also with no local permanent address, was arrested at 8:55 a.m. on Kalihi and Elua streets and booked for meth trafficking.

The arrests capped an undercover operation by the Kalihi patrol district's Crime Reduction Unit following community complaints about drug dealing at Kalihi and Laumaile streets near Kalihi Uka School.

Kalihi CRU did a similar investigation at the same location resulting in arrests about two years ago.

The suspects were arrested for second-degree meth trafficking and illegal gambling, which involved pitching coins.

The alleged meth trafficking occurred in a Weed & Seed area.