WAILUKU - A woman who was arrested when authorities seized about 130 pounds of marijuana sent from California to Maui last month is being held in lieu of $1 million bail after being indicted in the case.
Cindi Sylva, 37, of Kula, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.
A Nov. 16 trial is scheduled for her in 2nd Circuit Court.
Maui police reported finding approximately 130 pounds of processed marijuana in a search of several boxes that had arrived on Maui through a private freight company. Police had obtained a warrant to search the boxes Aug. 12 after receiving information that suspicious pieces of freight were being sent from California to Maui, police reported.
Another search warrant was executed the next day at a private storage facility in Kahului, leading to the seizure of about 1.5 pounds of processed marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police reported.
Police said the investigation led to the largest seizure of processed marijuana in Maui County history.
Sylva, who is also known as Cindi Anderson and Maureen Andrews, was initially held in federal custody because she is a South African citizen who was in the United States illegally, officials said.
During a hearing Sept. 11, 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August kept Sylva's bail at $1 million.
Her attorney, Samuel King Jr., had asked that bail be reduced. In a motion filed in court, King said Sylva was five months pregnant and would live with her husband in Kula on property they have rented for about four months. Her husband is applying for permanent residence status for Sylva, King said.
He said deportation proceedings were pending against her because she came to Maui from South Africa about 10 years ago and stayed.
Sylva was described as a yoga therapist in some letters written for her by Maui residents.
Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones asked that bail be maintained.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.
