The Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association recently honored Acting Lt. Grad Elarionoff of the Hawaii Police Department as Officer of the Year during their 68th annual conference on Kauai.
Elarionoff, who works in the Area II Vice Section, was recognized for his efforts in leading investigations that successfully interrupted two high-end drug trafficking organizations that were importing and distributing large amounts of crystal methamphetamine on Hawaii Island, according to an HPD press release.
A 25 year-veteran of the department, Elarionoff has worked in vice for nine years. In the last year, his efforts have rid Hawaii Island communities of 82 pounds of methamphetamine, 346 grams of illicit fentanyl, 200 fentanyl pills, 17.1 pounds of marijuana, 5.7 grams of heroin and 4.4 grams of cocaine.
“Acting Lieutenant Elarionoff is incredibly passionate about reducing the amount of drugs in our island community and holding drug dealers accountable for their crimes,” said Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz in the press release. “The HSLEOA award recognizes the top cop in each department, and we are extremely proud of Acting Lieutenant Elarionoff’s extraordinary dedication and outstanding efforts.”
In February 2024, after a lengthy investigation, Elarionoff obtained and executed search warrants at a residence in Kona, resulting in the recovery of more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine and the arrests of two individuals.
Knowing the impact of illicit drugs on the community, Elarionoff delved deeper than the initial recovery and subsequently identified an upline dealer on Oahu. When the Oahu dealer shipped a parcel to Hawaii Island in April 2024 containing 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine, police intercepted and recovered the parcel. They were able to arrest the dealer and recover an additional 6 pounds of methamphetamine.
A separate year-long investigation spearheaded by Elarionoff involved a mainland drug trafficking organization suspected of smuggling narcotics to the island via different airlines, using fake identifications in an effort to evade detection.
In May 2024, vice officers developed information about a suspected trafficker on an inbound flight from the mainland. Based on developed information, an elusive drug dealer who was suspected of smuggling hundreds of pounds of narcotics to Hawaii Island and Maui was arrested and is now facing federal charges. As part of this investigation, 20 pounds of methamphetamine was also recovered.
Elarionoff also leads the Hawaii County Ice Task Force.