A Puna man has been charged with numerous offenses for a suspected large-scale marijuana-growing operation in Kurtistown, police said. ADVERTISING A Puna man has been charged with numerous offenses for a suspected large-scale marijuana-growing operation in Kurtistown, police said. On
A Puna man has been charged with numerous offenses for a suspected large-scale marijuana-growing operation in Kurtistown, police said.
On Tuesday, Hilo vice officers served search warrants on a Hawaiian Acres home on the 16-1600 block of Pulelehua Street and two adjacent vacant properties. Officers determined that six medical marijuana permits were associated with the first property and none with the other two.
Police recovered 61 marijuana plants outside the house on the first property and 207 plants from three areas inside the house. An additional 41 plants and numerous pots with cut stems were located on the adjacent properties.
No one was home when officers arrived but the property owner, 59-year-old John Perreira, later returned home and was arrested.
In total, police recovered 309 marijuana plants, 68.12 pounds of dried processed marijuana and $19,500 in cash for forfeiture.
At 10:20 a.m. today, Perreira was charged with four counts of first-degree promotion of marijuana, four counts of second-degree promotion of marijuana and six counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $90,000.
His initial court appearance is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
