KAPA‘A — A Kapa‘a man charged with promotion of illicit drugs including fentanyl and the possession of illegal firearms will be arraigned in state court in Lihu‘e today at 1 p.m.
The Kaua‘i Police Department arrested Paul Bun Chung Say, 58, on Jan. 19.
KPD’s Vice Section enacted search warrants on Say last Wednesday, recovering a total of approximately 243 grams of methamphetamine, 42 grams of fentanyl and 26.4 grams of marijuana, along with numerous pills that need to be sent for testing and which police speculate may be Xanax, Oxycodone or fentanyl, according to the department.
Police also recovered $8,046, a loaded .38 special, a break-action 12-gauge shotgun, a 223 semi-automatic AR-15-style rifle ghost gun, along with numerous unspent ammunition.
“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous and insidious drug that has reached our shores in a very concerning capacity in recent months,” KPD Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce said in a statement.
Last month, it was reported that KPD and emergency-service provider American Medical Response had administered the emergency anti-opioid nasal spray Narcan at least 23 times on island in a three-month period, linked to a rise in overdose cases in the last few months.
“Our vice officers have diligently responded with an in-depth investigation and enforcement of illicit drug activities and now we have one less person on the street engaging in this criminal lifestyle,” Ponce said. “However, that’s not to say that this issue is behind us. Everyone needs to continue to remain vigilant in our community regarding this criminal activity and continue to be aware of the severe dangers of drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine.”
Say has been officially charged with two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree, one count of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree, seven counts of illegal places to keep ammunition, three counts of ownership or possession of prohibited firearms, prohibited alteration of gun-identification marks, having a pistol or revolver in a place illegal to possess it, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway, and manufacturing, purchasing or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm having no serial number.
Say is being held on a $1 million bail.
Sad commentary on the state of Aloha on Kauai, completely unnecessary though.
Patri
Unfortunately, when it comes to the drug problem, taking one dealer off the streets will only create an opening for more to take their place. Decriminalization of drugs would take the power away from the dealers and open more safe spaces for users to be educated and hopefully overcome addiction.
You never really know what is in the drugs on the street. Get educated, stay healthy and be safe..
A great start . . . but what about those who relied on him? Wish there was a safety net to catch all the addicts who are falling ill from withdrawals. A place they can go to heal . . . put in place by the vice and county crew.