Seven Maui men arrested for marijuana drug trafficking

WAILUKU, Maui (KHNL) - Seven Maui residents were arrested and charged for marijuana drug trafficking Tuesday.

The seven men were: 53-year-old Brian Murphy of Paia, 31-year-old Brian Igersheim of Makawao, 58-year-old Robert Armitage of Wailuku, 54-year-old Douglas Kaleikini of Wailuku, 40-year-old John Cooper of Kihei, 48-year-old William Cox of Haiku and 48-year-old Stuart Hirotsu of Wailuku.

Officials say a total of about 335 marijuana plants, 2,300 grams of processed marijuana, 4,830 grams of unprocessed marijuana, 32 grams of hashish, 100 marijuana laced candies, one vehicle and more than $14,000 in cash were recovered during the investigation.

The arrest of the men was a result of a two-year investigation called Operation Weedkiller, which officials say, dismantled a marijuana drug trafficking organization, operating under Hawaii's medical marijuana laws.

The investigation revealed that the men operated as an organized crime entity, where they had several people involved in an illegal enterprise. It included hired people to protect the illicit business of Patients Without Time (PWT).

Officials say the men used PWT and the medical marijuana laws to disguise their drug trafficking organization.

The investigation is still ongoing.