HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-19 (Drugs and illegal vape products seized from smoke shops)DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: March 19, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
KAUA‘I POLICE DEPARTMENT
TODD G. RAYBUCK, CHIEF
(808) 241-1600
Drugs and illegal vape products seized from smoke shops
Kauaʿi police arrested 32-year-old Chad Yazawa of Wailua, 58-year-old Henry Long of Kealia and
30-year-old Ciara Silva of Kealia on March 17 after locating illegal drugs at their business establishments.
The Kauaʿi Police Department’s Vice Section executed a search warrant around noon on
Wednesday on the Garden Isle CBD Smoke Shop located in the Kawaihau District. The search warrant
resulted in the seizure of an excess of 2 pounds of marijuana, numerous amounts of vape cartridges
labeled with over 80% THC, “medicated” edibles, several pounds of “green vegetable matter” that will
be tested for THC, and $5,858 in U.S. currency.
Based on this search warrant, Long was arrested for Commercial Promotion of Marijuana in the
Second Degree. He was released after posting $5,000 bail.
Silva was arrested for Commercial Promotion in the Second Degree. She was released pending
investigation.
KPD’s Vice Section simultaneously executed a second search warrant on the ʿOhana Smoke Shop
located in the Līhuʿe District. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of an excess of 2 pounds of
marijuana, 61.2 grams of psilocybin mushrooms and numerous amounts of vape cartridges labeled with
over 80% THC, THC edibles, and $15,972 in U.S. currency.
Based on this search warrant, Yazawa was arrested for Commercial Promotion of Marijuana in
the Second Degree and Promoting a Harmful Drug in the Third Degree. He was released on $6,000 bail.
The Kauaʿi Police Department’s efforts to mitigate the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes or
“vapes” to Kauaʿi keiki is in alignment with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Youth Tobacco
Prevention Plan.
According to a 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used
tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students, and the number of users continues to
rise.
Federal law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18, and in 2016
Hawaiʿi became the first state to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.
“E-cigarettes and other vaping devices are easily accessible to our Kauaʿi keiki,” said
Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce. “Some of the products that our youth are
getting a hold of, which can also contain THC, are causing detrimental effects not only to the
development of their brains, according to scientific studies, but are also having long-term detrimental
effects on other aspects of their health. It is a priority of our department to help keep our keiki safe.”
In 2017, nearly 20% of U.S. high school youth were reported to be using tobacco products,
including e-cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Moreover, these smoke shops were violating the law by selling products they weren’t
authorized to sell, in comparison to other legally operating medical marijuana dispensaries across the
state,” said Ponce. “But the main message that we want to get across to the public from this
investigation is to please be careful of the products that your keiki may be using or possessing and
illegally obtaining, and the negative impact they could be having to their health.”
Chad Yazawa Henry Long Ciara Silva
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