Puna man faces drug charges after VICE-East operation

Two narcotics search warrants executed by VICE-East officers resulted in the arrest of 52-year-old Davin Antonio of Puna on Monday.

After completing search warrants on an ʻĀinaloa residence and a Toyota 4Runner, officers recovered a combined total of 473.84 grams, or 1.04 pounds, of a substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, five digital scales, clean and unused ziplock-type packets, ammunition, and more than $4,000.

Antonio is charged with drug offenses in various degrees, including:

• Promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree (possession of 1 ounce or more of methamphetamine);
• Attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree (attempted distribution of methamphetamine of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more);
• Promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree;
• Two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree (possession of any amount of methamphetamine);
• Two counts of ownership, possession, or control of ammunition prohibited.

Antonio made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Wednesday afternoon, and his bail was maintained at $343,000. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

The felony narcotics investigation was handled by the VICE-East Section from the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Andrew Son and Elyssa Correia Keltner.