Just 1 fentanyl-related arrest in June on Big Island; nearly 5 grams recovered

Just one fentanyl-related arrest was made on the Big Island in June in East Hawai‘i.

The Hawai‘i Police Department also recovered a total of 4.86 grams of illicit fentanyl last month, including 4.06 grams in East Hawai‘i and 0.8 grams in West Hawai‘i. No fentanyl pills were recovered.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, just 2 milligrams of illicit fentanyl, equal to a couple grains of salt, is a lethal dose. That means the 4.86 total grams recovered by Big Island police last month is enough to kill 2,430 island residents.

During the first 6 months of 2024, police recovered a total of 476.19 grams of fentanyl. That’s enough to kill 238,140 Big Island residents.

The Hawai‘i Police Department is committed to fighting drugs on the island and apprehending those who distribute and sell illegal narcotics.

In recent years, the use of illicit fentanyl has reached epidemic proportions on the mainland and in Hawai‘i. 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, visit the Police Department’s website.

If you have information relating to illicit drug use and distribution, or issues such as prostitution, gambling and other related crimes, the Hawai‘i Police Department encourages you to call the East Hawaiʻi and West Hawaiʻi Vice Sections 24-hour anonymous hotline.

Call 808-329-“ZERO-ICE” or 808-329-0423 with information in Kaʻū, Kona, South Kohala and North Kohala. Call 808-934-“VICE” or 808-934-8423 with information in Puna, South Hilo and Hāmākua.

You do not have to provide your name, address or telephone number. All information is kept confidential and within the Criminal Investigation Division.

Information is cross-referenced, allowing detectives to determine if additional information related to the criminal activity about which you are calling has been reported in the past. Even “small” bits of information can at times provide detectives with the “missing link” that allows them to take action.

As part of its continuing community outreach about the dangers of fentanyl, Hawai‘i Police Department provides monthly updates about the amount of fentanyl related arrests (possession/distribution) in Hawai‘i County and the quantity of fentanyl recovered for the preceding month.