Police charge Kona man after fentanyl arrest at airport

A Kailua-Kona man was arrested and charged with drug and bail offenses after police intercepted him arriving at Kona International Airport at Keahole with more than 21 grams of suspected fentanyl on the afternoon of Feb. 2.

At about 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Vice officers, along with Homeland Security Investigations Taskforce agents, contacted 35-year-old Dorian Thompson as he was deplaning an inbound mainland flight. 

Thompson was arrested for violating his court ordered bail conditions that stemmed from a recent drug related incident. Investigators obtained consent to search his items and recovered 21.7 grams of suspected powdered fentanyl from a bag that Thompson was carrying. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, .02 milligrams of powdered fentanyl is considered a fatal dose.

The lethal drug has a street value of more than $12,000.

Thompson was taken to the Kona police cellblock while investigators continued the investigation.

At 7:15 p.m. Friday evening, Thompson was charged with one count each of violation of bail and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. His bail was set at $52,000.

Thompson remains at the Kona cellblock pending his initial court appearance at Kona District Court scheduled for the morning of Feb. 5.

Police encourage the public to call the police department’s 24-hour vice hotlines, 808-329-“ZERO-ICE” (329-0423) in Kona and 808-934-“VICE” (934-8423) in Hilo to provide anonymous information about fentanyl, “ice” and other illegal drugs.