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Marijuana Sweep 05/17/99

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HILO VICE SECTION
LIEUTENANT HENRY TAVARES
PHONE: 961-2253
May 14, 1999
F-94440

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police seized a total of 34,859 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 5 feet during the past four days as part of its continuing “Counter-Cannabis Field Operation.”

The plants were seized in the South Hilo and Puna Districts.

Joining Big Island police officers in the marijuana eradication enforcement effort were personnel from the Honolulu, Maui and Kauai police departments, the State of Hawaii Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement and the Hawaii Army National Guard.

In conjunction with the eradication mission, police executed a search warrant on a residence in the Kalapana Black Sands Subdivision and arrested Luis A. Carrillo, 40.

Carrillo was arrested on four counts of commercial promotion of marijuana, one count of promoting a detrimental drug and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia after police recovered 990 marijuana plants, over one pound of dried marijuana and marijuana cultivation paraphernalia.

Carrillo is currently being held in the police cellblock pending further investigation.

Lieutenant Henry Tavares, head of the Hilo Vice Section, said: “We would like to thank the general public for its understanding and patience during the four days of our marijuana eradication mission. We want to encourage residents to continue providing information on areas where marijuana plants are being grown.

“The police will be continuing their efforts to keep our Big Island community safe from illicit drugs and the crime and violence associated with it.”

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