Green Harvest nets 284 plants

LIHU‘E — Green Harvest operations Monday and Tuesday netted 284 plants and nearly three pounds of processed marijuana, said Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry.

In addition, an unregistered, loaded 9 mm firearm was seized, with investigations of possible suspects continuing, the chief said in an e-mail Tuesday.

Federal, state and county law-enforcement personnel took part in the operation, Perry said.

“Because of the sensitivity of the operations including the potential of future missions, staffing and resources utilized will not be divulged at this time,” he said.

“Additionally, the total cost of the mission will be calculated when all of the information is received from the various agencies.”

The operation involved locations all across the island, he said.

Tents, government vehicles and personnel were observed Tuesday at the North Vidinha soccer fields, sometimes used as a landing zone for helicopters in such operations.

Several citizens commented on low-flying helicopters in residential areas, some hovering for long periods of time, even describing the craft as dark green in color, and another that was white with blue and red stripes.

Sheila Heathcote, Kaua‘i Air Tour Help Line operator, said in a telephone message that the help line is ringing off the hook, as it normally does during Green Harvest operations.

There was a twist this week, she said.

“The interesting thing this time around is how people call the help line and ask me, tell me about the choppers that are flying low over their house, but these folks know every helicopter on the island, they know every company, they know all the colors, they know the call numbers, and they’re just verifying with me that it is Green Harvest I think so that they can get their plants out of there,” said Heathcote.

• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com