LIHU‘E — Just 75 marijuana plants, ranging in size from seedlings to four-footers, were taken by law enforcement officers during last week’s Green Harvest operations across the island, according to Kaua‘i Police Department officials. Most of the plants were taken
LIHU‘E — Just 75 marijuana plants, ranging in size from seedlings to four-footers, were taken by law enforcement officers during last week’s Green Harvest operations across the island, according to Kaua‘i Police Department officials.
Most of the plants were taken from the Kilauea and Hanalei areas, said KPD Chief Darryl Perry.
For security reasons, the number of helicopters was not divulged by Perry, but reporters saw two yellow craft involved in the operations parked near KPD headquarters in Lihu‘e last Tuesday, and other observers reported four dark-colored, military-style helicopters flying low over various parts of the island last week.
Some eight calls were also made Monday and Tuesday of last week to the Kaua‘i Air Tour Help Line, a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft telephone line, with callers reporting on and asking questions about the nature of the low-flying craft, said Sheila Heathcote, a help line operator.
She said one of the two yellow helicopters is registered to Windward Aviation of Maui, and there were at least two U.S. Army helicopters involved as well, all “flying extremely low.”
The Kaua‘i Air Tour Help Line is manned by Heathcote or another live operator seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 639-5566. Calls are taken during regular business hours, and messages can be left after regular business hours, she said in a press release.
Some 15 law enforcement personnel were involved in last week’s Green Harvest operations, including KPD officers, and officers from the Honolulu, Maui and Big Island police departments, Perry said in an e-mail.
A federal, U.S. Department of Justice grant administered through the state Attorney General’s office pays for Green Harvest operations, but calculations of a dollar cost for last week’s operations hadn’t been finalized, Perry added.
In aerial surveillance conducted in advance of last week’s full-on Green Harvest operations, some marijuana plants were found very near KPD headquarters and pulled, said Perry during an interview in his office.
For the year to date, 3,202 plants with an estimated street value of over $300,000 have been confiscated. Included in that total is a March 19 bust in Kilauea that netted 1,414 plants from two plots and led to the arrest of Miles Martinez, 53, and Rickie Trinque, 48, both of Kilauea.
They have been charged with commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree, a Class A felony.
Last year, voters on the Big Island passed a measure making enforcement of marijuana laws that island’s police department’s lowest priority. The vote was 35,689 in favor, and 25,940 against, in the citizen-driven initiative.
Also last year, members of the Big Island county council deadlocked 4-4 on a vote to accept $441,000 in federal and state funds for Green Harvest operations, effectively saying “no” to acceptance of those funds.
Despite those actions, Perry said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration marijuana-eradication efforts on the Big Island continue.
