Search of Honolulu man’s carry-on at Hilo airport after airsoft pistol found inside leads to discovery of fentanyl, more

A Honolulu man faces several drug charges after he attempted to to bring an airsoft pistol through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint during the weekend at Hilo International Airport, triggering a search of his carry-on bag that led to the discovery of fentanyl and more.

The Hawai‘i Police Department says 60-year-old Olaf Seyler is charged with:

• First-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug.
• Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
• Three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Seyler’s bail was set at $210,000. His initial court appearance was Monday afternoon in South Hilo District Court, where his bail was maintained and a preliminary hearing was set for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

He remains in custody at East Hawai‘i Detention Facility in Hilo.

South Hilo patrol officers were assigned just before 3 p.m. Sept. 21 to the Hilo International Airport and learned that Seyler attempted to pass through security when an item in his carry-on bag that appeared to be a pistol was observed by X-ray screening.

TSA reported that while searching Seyler’s carry-on, a glass smoking pipe with white powdery substances in the stem and bulbous portions were located. In addition, 27 individual 1-inch resealable packets containing a powdery rock-like substance were also found, along with a functional digital scale and an Glock 17 airsoft pistol.

Seyler was arrested for suspected narcotics possession and transported to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility, where he was detained for continued investigation.

Seyler’s luggage was recovered and transported to the Hilo Police Station, where it was secured pending the execution of a search warrant.

A total of 24.57 net grams of fentanyl was recovered from the resealable packets. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose.

Based on this information, the fentanyl seized had the potential to result in greater than 12,000 lethal doses.

Detectives with the Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Vice Section executed a search warrant Sunday on Seyler’s luggage, resulting in the recovery of 0.63 grams of methamphetamine and an additional 0.93 grams of fentanyl.

Anyone who might have information about this incident is asked to contact Officer Wyatt Kaili-leong at 808-961-2203 or wyatt.kaili-leong@hawaiicounty.gov.