HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE POLICE CHIEF
PHONE: 961-2244
DECEMBER 27, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii County Police Department has received a national law enforcement award for its role in “Operation Shave Ice,” conducted in November 2003.

Officials of the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program presented the award to Detective Ernest Saldua of the West Hawaii Vice Section and Chief Lawrence K. Mahuna at the HIDTA awards’ banquet, held December 14, 2004, in Washington, D.C.

Resulting in the indictment of more than 60 individuals and the execution of more than 50 search warrants on the Big Island and Oahu and in California, Arizona and Nevada, the operation was selected as one of the most successful anti-crystal methamphetamine projects in the nation.

It also resulted in the seizure of nine and one-half pounds of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” $510,000 in currency, $75,000 in assets and 15 firearms.

Besides the Hawaii County Police Department, agencies taking part in the operation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Honolulu Police Department; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Internal Revenue Service; and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to the HIDTA, the operation resulting in the dismantling of four distinct lines of supply into Hawaii.

Investigative leads generated from cooperating defendants have also resulted in a number of spin-off investigations, including a series of buy-busts and reverse operations leading to 13 additional arrests of significant suspects accused of transporting drug supplies into Hawaii.

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