Hawai‘i Island police recover 132 grams of illicit fentanyl in August

Hawai‘i Island police recovered 132.3 grams of illicit fentanyl in August, nearly all of which was confiscated in West Hawai‘i.

This is the most amount of fentanyl seized on the Kona side since January. In East Hawai‘i, 254.71 grams were recovered in July.

Also in August, authorities made six fentanyl-related arrests and confiscated 36 fentanyl pills. No arrests were made and no pills were recovered in East Hawai‘i.

Police have been providing monthly updates on illicit fentanyl recovered in the community and arrests made related to the drug since at least January as part of ongoing community outreach on the dangers of fentanyl. In recent years, the use of illicit fentanyl has reached epidemic proportions on the mainland and Hawai‘i.

Police say criminal drug networks are mixing this dangerous synthetic opioid into illegal counterfeit pills and selling them as legitimate prescription pills, often with deadly consequences.

For fentanyl safety tips, how to recognize fentanyl poisoning, and more, go to HPD’s website: https://www.hawaiipolice.com/services/crime-tips#fentanyl.