Two men nabbed in Kona drug bust

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Two men were charged with drug offenses Sunday after being arrested Friday in Kona.

Two men were charged with drug offenses Sunday after being arrested Friday in Kona.

Police arrested 52-year-old Richard Castro, of no permanent address, and 50-year-old Benjamin Fleming of Captain Cook at about 3:30 p.m. Friday at a Kailua-Kona business after seeing Fleming, who was wanted in an unrelated narcotics investigation, in a sport-utility vehicle driven by Castro.

Police on Saturday executed a search warrant on the SUV and recovered 60.4 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 15.5 grams of suspected cocaine, 14.5 grams of suspected heroin, 10.6 grams of suspected marijuana, paraphernalia associated with narcotics use and distribution, one unspent .32 caliber round and $4,174 in cash for forfeiture.

Castro was charged at 12:30 a.m. Sunday with meth trafficking, three counts of promotion of a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia and two firearms offenses. His bail was set at $146,000, and he remained at the cellblock until his initial court appearance Monday morning.

Fleming was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. He was released on $2,250 bail.