HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
HILO VICE SECTION
LIEUTENANT HENRY TAVARES
PHONE: 961-2253
MARCH 18, 1999
F-88830
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police Thursday (March 18, 1999) seized 3,469 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 4 feet as part of their continuing “Counter-Cannabis Field Operation.”
The plants were seized in the Kaiwiki, Pepeekeo, Kaumana, Hakalau, Umauma, Lapahoehoe Point and Honokaa in the South Hilo, North Hilo and Hamakua Districts.
Thursday’s haul brings the total number of plants seized to 16,665 during the first three days of the operation.
Joining Big Island police in the eradication enforcement effort were personnel from the Maui and Honolulu police departments, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hawaii Army National Guard and the State Department of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
One person was arrested for promoting a detrimental drug and released pending further investigation. The suspect was identified as Richard Kauwe Jr., 48, of a Keaukaha address in Hilo. Kauwe was arrested after 115 marijuana plants, ranging in size from seedlings to 1 foot, were seized on his property.
Anyone with noise complaints or comments regarding police marijuana eradication operations may call the Hilo Vice Section office at 961-2258.
# # #