The Latest: Men plead not guilty in large Kauai meth bust

HONOLULU – The Latest on arraignments for two men arrested in Kauai Police Department’s largest meth bust (all times local):

11:50 a.m.

Two men are pleading not guilty in a federal drug case Kauai police say resulted in the largest amount of crystal methamphetamine seized during a single bust on the island.

Steve Pete Orozco II and his cousin Andrew J. Martinez pleaded not guilty Wednesday to meth trafficking charges. Orozco is also charged with possessing a stolen handgun with a scratched-off serial number.

When they were arrested in March, Kauai police said officers found seven pounds of meth in their home. Police say that’s the largest amount of meth the department has seized in one incident. Police say it has a street value of $1.6 million.

A judge is allowing Martinez to be released to a halfway house. Orozco continues to be held at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.

9:25 a.m.

Two men arrested after Kauai police seized seven pounds of crystal methamphetamine worth about $1.6 million are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court.

Kauai police say it was the largest amount of meth the department seized in a single bust on the island.

Steve Pete Orozco II and Andrew J. Martinez are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on meth trafficking charges. Orozco is also charged with possessing a stolen handgun with a scratched-off serial number.

According to court documents, Martinez told authorities he moved to Kauai in 2006. He says his cousin, Orozco, brought the meth to the house. The FBI says an informant led police to Orozco, of Stockton, California.

Orozco’s public defender, Craig Jerome, declined to comment before the arraignment. Martinez’s attorney couldn’t immediately be reached.