KAILUA-KONA — Large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin discovered in a package led Hawaii police officers to a home where two men were taken into custody after execution of a search warrant, officials confirmed Friday.
The search warrant was one of several served on Kailua-Kona homes this week. The results netted several arrests and the recovery of various drugs.
The first warrant was issued Monday at a home on Ala Onaona Street. Police say a screened package, which contained 14.18 ounces of methamphetamine and 10.03 ounces of heroin, was addressed to the residence. While they wouldn’t specify how the package was brought to their attention initially, police say, authorities screen packages from airlines, the pier and mail carriers.
When Area II Vice Officers arrived at the home, police encountered Michael Anthony Ventrella and Derek Edwin Conway. A search warrant executed at the house yielded methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills, anabolic steroids and three firearms.
On Tuesday, warrants were also served on Conway’s vehicle and condominium, located toward the end of Alii Drive. According to police, officers recovered methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine paraphernalia, miscellaneous pills, anabolic steroids and a pistol.
Ventrella was arrested and charged on two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree; two counts of promoting dangerous drugs in the third degree; two counts of promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree; promoting dangerous drugs in the third degree; promoting detrimental drugs in the third degree; promoting drug paraphernalia; firearm offense and carrying a deadly weapon.
Ventrella was booked into jail at $48,275. He posted bail.
Conway was also arrested and charged with three counts of promoting harmful drugs and two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree, promoting drug paraphernalia, possessing prohibited ammunition, and a firearm offense.
Conway was also charged for probation revocation with no bail relative to prior drug charges.
On Thursday, vice officers executed two unrelated search warrants at two different homes, which also yielded more arrests and recovery of drugs. The first residence was on Loloa Drive.
The homeowner David Riehle was arrested and charged on several drug offenses. His bail was set at $72,250.
Dylan Joseph Brehaut and Ashley Safa were also arrested and charged in connection to the incident.
Bail for Brehaut was set at $20,250 and Safa it was set at $13,250.
Officers also served a warrant at a home in Kona Highlands subdivision. Six people were detained and later released pending investigation.