Police nab suspected drug courier

A California man is facing drug trafficking charges following an arrest Easter Sunday at Kona International Airport.

At 7:43 p.m. Sunday, Kona vice officers served a search warrant on 40-year-old Gerald Wrischnik of Oceanside, Calif., after he arrived on a flight. The search warrant included an X-ray of his body at Kona Community Hospital, where items were found concealed within his person.

Police recovered 175.6 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin and 4.6 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine. They were packaged in a manner consistent with the importation of narcotics.

Wrischnik was charged Tuesday with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree attempted meth trafficking, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His bail was set at $160,000 and his initial court appearance was set for Wednesday.