Airport drug bust arrestee heads to court

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A California man who allegedly transported drugs from the mainland to Kona heads to court again Thursday.

A California man who allegedly transported drugs from the mainland to Kona heads to court again Thursday.

Hawaii County Police arrested Gerald Wrischnik, 40, on April 5 at Kona International Airport.

Police said they issued a search warrant that included an X-ray of Wrischnik’s body at the Kona Community Hospital after he deplaned from a United Airlines flight.

Three bundles of drug-like substances were found on his body.

According to a police report, officials recovered 175.6 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin and 4.6 grams of a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

Officials later charged Wrischnik with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree attempted meth trafficking, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Margaret Masunaga upheld all charges during a preliminary hearing on the case on April 10.

His bail was set at $160,000 and he will head to court again at 11:30 a.m. April 23 at the Division 4 Court in Kona.