The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii has recognized Officer Kelly Moniz as its “Officer of the Month” for May. Moniz, a Vice Section officer, was honored for his role in an investigation that dismantled a major ring of crystal
The Aloha Exchange Club of East Hawaii has recognized Officer Kelly Moniz as its “Officer of the Month” for May. Moniz, a Vice Section officer, was honored for his role in an investigation that dismantled a major ring of crystal methamphetamine traffickers.
In 2012, Moniz developed information about crystal meth distributors working out of Puna. He later worked with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force — consisting of the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and police officers from Las Vegas — in an investigation of a larger distributor working out of Las Vegas.
The investigation revealed that one of the Big Island distributors was flying to Las Vegas to pick up large quantities of crystal meth from the target of the Task Force’s investigation. In August 2012, both of those persons and three others were arrested in Las Vegas. The Task Force recovered 4.7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 10 pounds of liquid crystal methamphetamine, 4 ounces of heroin and $53,000 in cash for forfeiture.
Det. Brandon Konanui, who nominated Moniz for the “Officer of the Month” award, said Moniz consistently does an “amazing job” in his role as a vice officer.
“Officer Moniz has more than 10 years serving as a police officer and still comes to work with the same enthusiasm that he did when he first put on the uniform,” Konanui said in nomination papers. As “Officer of the Month,” Moniz is eligible for “Officer of the Year.”
