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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:49 a.m., Saturday, September 13, 2008

Kau man, 81, arrested on marijuana charges

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Leovegildo Mercado

Photo courtesy of Hawaii Police Department

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An 81-year-old Ka'u man remains in police custody on drug and weapons charges in connection with a search warrant police served Thursday in Pahala.

Investigators from the Vice Section in Kona executed the search warrant on a Pakalana Street home at 3:50 p.m. Thursday. Eighty-one-year-old Leovegildo Mercado and 64-year-old Bernardino Mercado were arrested for commercial promotion of marijuana after officers recovered 506 marijuana plants, 4.9 pounds of dried marijuana, two rifles, a handgun and ammunition. Police also seized almost $44,000 in cash for forfeiture.

Leovegildo Mercado was charged Friday with three counts of commercial promotion of marijuana, one count of promoting a detrimental drug and six firearms violations. His bail was set at $10,700. He remains in the Kona police cellblock.

Bernardino Mercado was released pending further investigation.