Bail cut in large pot bust

WAILUKU - A 37-year-old pregnant Kula woman, who had been held on $1 million bail in a case that involves the largest seizure of processed marijuana in the county's history, had her bail reduced to $250,000 on Friday.

Second Circuit Judge Joel August said he would allow Cindi Sylva to put up her friend's condominium to partially meet bail requirements. But out of the total amount, August said, $50,000 would have to be posted by cash or bail bond.

August said if Sylva posts bail she is to be transferred to the Federal Detention Center on Oahu. Sylva is not a U.S. citizen, according to immigration authorities.

The judge also asked Sylva's attorney, Samuel King Jr., to hold the defendant's passport. August said if Sylva also makes bail on the federal level, she is to reside on Maui and report once a week to the probation department.

Sylva, who is seven months pregnant, is being housed at the Oahu Community Correctional Center, since Maui Community Correctional Center was not equipped to handle her "high-risk pregnancy," King said.

Sylva 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.

Police have called the bust the largest seizure of processed marijuana in Maui County history.

On Aug. 12, police obtained a warrant to search boxes that arrived on Maui through a private freight company. Police found 130 pounds of processed marijuana. Police got a tip that suspicious pieces of freight were being sent from California to Maui.

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 said.

Sylva, also known as Cindi Anderson and Maureen Andrews, came to Maui from South Africa about 10 years ago and has lived here since.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@ mauinews.com.