HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HILO VICE SECTION
LIEUTENANT HENRY TAVARES
PHONE: 961-2253
MARCH 2, 2000
G-21743
MEDIA RELEASE
Hilo vice officers arrested three men while conducting two raids Wednesday (March 1, 2000) on separate indoor marijuana growing operations in Puna.
At 10:10 a.m., Hilo Vice Section officers executed a search warrant on a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park and found an indoor marijuana growing operation. Inside, they confiscated 259 plants ranging in height from seedlings to 6 inches.
Outside, they recovered an additional 112 marijuana plants about 2-feet-6 in height. They also recovered one pound of dried marijuana.
The officers arrested the occupants, males 22 and 21, on two counts commercial promotion of marijuana, numerous counts of promotion of a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. The two suspects were released pending further investigation.
The second raid occurred after Puna patrol officers responded to a 6:56 p.m. fire alarm call to a residence in the Hawaiian Shores subdivision. Arriving at the scene, the patrol officers found no evidence of a blaze, but saw marijuana growing. They notified the Hilo Vice Section, which obtained a search warrant.
At the residence, the vice officers discovered a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing facility that included a hydroponic operation. They recovered 241 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 2 feet.
Inside, the officers also seized 4.3 pounds of dried marijuana. Outside, they recovered another 115 marijuana plants. They also recovered $1,300 in cash for forfeiture.
They arrested the occupant, a 45-year-old man, on three counts of commercial promotion of marijuana and possessing drug paraphernalia. The suspect was released pending further investigation.
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