Five arrested, 5,922 plants seized in Kauai's Operation Green Stream
Federal and Kauai officers arrested five growers on 31 August 2007 and seized 5,922 marijuana plants worth about $5.9 million from state land at the foot of Mount Waialeale, in what prosecutors called the largest outdoor grow ever prosecuted in Hawaii.
🇺🇸 Foot of Mount Waialeale, Kauai · Hawaii, United States
Federal and Kauai officers arrested five residents on 31 August 2007 and seized 5,922 marijuana plants from state land in dense jungle at the foot of Mount Waialeale, in an investigation called Operation Green Stream.[1]The plants had a street value of about $5.9 million, roughly $1,000 of processed marijuana per plant, making it what US Attorney Ed Kubo called the largest outdoor marijuana growing operation ever prosecuted in Hawaii.[1][2]
Those charged with cultivating more than 1,000 plants were Edward Holland, his sons Robert and Ryan Bihm, Robert’s wife Melissa Bihm, and Mark Steven Darling.[1]All but Holland faced ten years to life in prison; Holland, convicted in 1991 over 97 lb of marijuana and mailing 2,242 grams, faced twenty years to life.[1]
The case began with a tip in November 2006, followed by aerial surveillance over the Blue Hole area and a ground check that found plants, growbags and gardening tools about an hour’s hike from the end of Kuamoo Road.[1]Officers videotaped the suspects tending the crop on 30 July and 13 August, seized six trucks used to move the marijuana, and recovered no firearms or cash.[1]Kubo speculated the crop was bound for sale locally and on the US mainland.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
The federal drug report places the arrests in September 2007; the contemporary newspaper dates them to the Friday before 5 September (31 August), used here.
The investigation was continuing and further suspects were sought at the time of reporting.
Press photographs on the source page show the press briefing, not the grow site, so no event photo with a recoverable direct image address is listed.
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