HILO, Hawai'i — A helicopter mission to rip up marijuana plants led police to a drug-smuggling operation and what is believed to be the largest single seizure of cocaine in Big Island history, with more than 8 pounds of the drug confiscated in a raid on a Mountain View home, police said.

Lt. Norman Keamo, who supervises the Hawai'i County Police Department's East Hawai'i Vice Unit, yesterday for the first time revealed details of the May 31 operation that resulted in the arrest of three people and the confiscation of 8.6 pounds of cocaine and $14,000 in cash from a home on Lehua Street in Fern Acres. At $1,500 an ounce, Keamo said the cocaine had a street value of about $200,000.

Big Island authorities did not publicize details of the raid sooner because they were still investigating the drug ring. Keamo said police have since completed their investigation and turned the case over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

He said officials are seeking federal charges against the three adults who were arrested in the raid and later released.

Keamo said it illustrates a common connection between marijuana cultivation and cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking.

People involved in the drug trade in Hawai'i sometimes grow marijuana to trade with Mainland dealers for cocaine or methamphetamine, also known as "ice." In other cases, local dealers and users exchange marijuana for other drugs, he said.

"People say they don't go hand-in-hand, but they do," Keamo said.

The crew involved in the helicopter eradication mission saw the marijuana plants growing behind the Fern Acres house and obtained a warrant to search the property. In addition to marijuana plants and dried marijuana, police discovered an amount of cocaine that had been packaged for shipment, and an additional amount that had been divided into smaller quantities, Keamo said.

Police believe the drugs were being smuggled in from the Mainland.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.