HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION, AREA I
ACTING CAPTAIN EARL HATADA
PHONE: 961-2254
JUNE 21, 2007
REPORT NO. C07019764
MEDIA RELEASE
Over the last several days, Hawaii police seized an estimated $776,970 worth of illegal drugs while executing a series of search warrants involving commercial marijuana operations.
In the first, 60-year-old John Ford of Waawaa was arrested with drug and firearms offenses following the service of a search warrant at his home Tuesday (June 19, 2007). Police recovered 309 marijuana plants, 266 grams (9.38 ounces) of processed marijuana and items associated with the cultivation, processing, weighing and packaging of marijuana for sale. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $313,690. Also recovered were two loaded firearms.
After conferring with prosecutors, police charged Ford with first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and five firearms offenses. His bail was set at $6,600.
Another Puna man was arrested for drug offenses Wednesday (June 20, 2007) following the service of search warrants at two Leilani Estates homes controlled by him. At 4:20 p.m. Hilo vice officers executed a search warrant at Donald Coke’s first home and recovered 37 marijuana plants in two outdoor plots, an additional 343 marijuana plants in an indoor grow operation, 13.8 pounds of processed marijuana, 7 grams of hashish, and items associated with the cultivation, processing and packaging of marijuana for sale.
As police arrived at the first home, Coke fled to an adjacent residence followed by police, who arrested him and observed marijuana in the second residence, for which they obtained another search warrant. During the execution of the warrant police recovered 6.8 pounds of processed marijuana, 7 grams of hashish and drug paraphernalia.
Police arrested Coke on suspicion of first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, second-degree promoting a harmful drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and first-degree criminal tampering for tampering with his electric meter in an attempt to conceal the electrical consumption related to the indoor growing operation.
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