HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR5-25-17OPA
C OU NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
News Release
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2017
JUSTIN KOLLAR, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Tel (808) 241-1888
Fax (808) 241-1758
County of Kaua‘i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney establishes
Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit
LIHUE – Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar announced the formation of the Drug
Nuisance Abatement Unit (DNAU) within the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
“Drug houses in our community degrade the quality of life for our residents,” stated Kollar.
“The DNAU is tasked with identifying, investigating, and closing down properties that are hubs for
drug dealing and related criminal activities.”
The DNAU consists of special investigators, deputy prosecutors and support staff who
work to enforce the Nuisance Abatement provisions of Chapter 712 of the Hawai‘i Revised
Statutes. These laws allow prosecutors to obtain injunctions in civil court to shut down properties
used for dealing or manufacture of drugs.
“Most of the time, once we put a landlord on notice that their property is being used for
drug dealing purposes, they take the initiative to evict the dealers. In some instances, we will
need to obtain injunctions from the Circuit Court to close the property down. We will not hesitate
to do that when appropriate and necessary.”
Community members with concerns about drug houses in their neighborhood can contact
DNAU Investigators at 808-241-1926 or via email, prosecutor@kauai.gov. For more information
on the DNAU program, visit the OPA website at www.kauai.gov/prosecutingattorney.
Community members should not attempt to confront suspected drug dealers or drug
users.
The Unit’s operations are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward
R. Byrne Justice Assistant Grant program administered in Hawai‘i by the Department of the
Attorney General.
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