Illegal Firearm Arrests Made by Undercover Officers

Undercover police officers with the Hawai’i Police Department posed as buyers of an illegal firearm, leading  arrests and felony charges for two Big Island men.

According to a HPD release, the officers responded to an online ad offering a firearm for sale. They officers were informed that the weapon was a sawed-off shotgun. At that point, they planned to meet with the seller.

Last Thursday, the undercover officers met with the two men in the Lakeland subdivision in Kamuela. It was there that the pair was arrested and the illegal firearm was recovered.

The pair, identified as 23-year-old Ryne Wamil of Kawaihae and 21-year-old Austin Silva of Kamuela, were arrested on suspicion of weapons offenses and taken to the Hilo police cellbock while the investigation continued.

Later on Thursday, Wamil was charged with possession of a modified weapon, unloaded firearm, and registration mandatory of a firearm. His bail was set at $4,500.

Detectives charged Silva with promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia after police found a glass smoking pipe on him. Silva was not charged on the weapons offenses pending further investigation. His bail was set at $4,000.

Wamil and Silva both remained at the cellblock as they waited for their initial court appearance that was scheduled for last Friday.