A drug trafficking ring operating out of Modesto, Calif., has been smuggling large quantities of crystal methamphetamine to Hawai'i since 1999 by hiding the drugs in boxes of household goods sent here by container ship, according to the FBI.

One member of the ring, Luis Fernando Casaca, was indicted yesterday on a charge of possession of nearly nine pounds of ice that arrived at the Honolulu waterfront April 29.

According to an affidavit filed in court by FBI special agent Gary Byrd earlier this month, Casaca is an illegal immigrant from Honduras who is part of the Modesto-based "drug trafficking organization."

The FBI began investigating the organization in November, seizing nine pounds of ice that had been shipped here via a Hayward, Calif., company called Hawaiian Express Service Inc.

There is no indication in the court files that the company was aware of the presence of illegal drugs in the shipments.

The sender of the goods gave the company a "variation of the sender's true name," paid cash for the shipment, and asked that the goods be held at the waterfront for pickup, according to Byrd's affidavit.

In December, the FBI seized seven more pounds of ice and discovered that the drugs had also been shipped here from Hayward in boxes of household goods, according to the affidavit.

Further investigation revealed that "there are several narcotic distributors residing in the Modesto, California area who are importing large quantities of crystal methamphetamine into Hawai'i via Hawaiian Express Service Inc." and that the smuggling had been going on since 1999, Byrd's affidavit said.

Casaca shipped five boxes of goods to Hawai'i April 17 and paid cash for the shipment, Byrd said.

Due to "a recent policy change" at Hawaiian Express Service, Casaca was required to produce his driver's license.

On April 29, Casaca and another man picked up the boxes at Pier 42 and were stopped by police, according to Byrd.

Nearly nine pounds of ice were found in two of the boxes, according to the agent.