Five women arrested for smuggling drugs into Hawaii prisons using postal mail

HONOLULU (Eagle News) – As part of “Operation Paper Shredder,” an ongoing effort to eliminate contraband introduction in Hawaii’s prisons, the State’s Department of Public Safety (PSD) have arrested five women, all allegedly involved in three recent cases of contraband smuggling into correctional facilities in Oahu.

Photos of five women arrested for smuggling contraband in Hawaii’s correctional facilities. Clockwise from upper left: Tiffany Fountain, Annette Garcia, Michelle Soto, Kimberly Cambra, and Katherine Sanee-Wong. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Public Safety (PSD))

“Public Safety’s Corrections and Law Enforcement Divisions have been working hand-in-hand on these cases to stop contraband from making it into the jails and prisons,” said PSD Director Tommy Johnson. “The efforts by corrections staff to intercept the drugs and turn them over to law enforcement prompted each of these cases, resulting in arrests.”

According to the PSD, these women influenced their family members, friends, or associates to obtain contraband and participate in smuggling schemes that attempted to introduce illegal drugs in the correctional facilities.

Two of the cases involved sending drug-laden paper through the mail into the prison. Drug paper was manufactured with a controlled substance soaked into or onto the surface, making the paper itself look harmless and attractive as contraband.

In the first case, Michelle Soto, 35, was suspected of supplying Kimberly Cambra, 29, with drug paper. Cambra allegedly prepared mail destined for an inmate at a correctional facility and gave it to her associate, Tiffany Fountain, 27, who then mailed the letter at a local post office. The letter was intercepted by the PSD’s Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) agents who then tested it and confirmed it to contain a controlled substance.

In the second case, Annette Garcia, 42, was arrested in Hilo, Big Island by State and Hawaii County law enforcement. Another letter containing drug paper was interdicted at an unnamed Oahu jail facility by corrections officers. Further tests resulted in identifying Garcia as the suspect.

The third case involved trafficking methamphetamine into an Oahu prison. Katherine Sanee-Wong, age 38, was arrested based on probable cause.

Each suspect has been charged with one count of promoting prison contraband in the first degree, which is a Class B felony in Hawaii and can carry a sentence of 10 years behind bars.

PSD also assured that other investigations are ongoing and that more arrests are expected.

(FILE) Troopers and civilian officials stand in formation at the Hawaii State Capitol Building during the activation ceremony of the newly-formed Department of Public Safety (PSD), which then-Governor David Ige signed into law in July 2022. (Photo by Mio Acenas, Hawaii-Pacific Bureau, Eagle News Service)

(Alfred Acenas, Hawaii-Pacific, Eagle News Service)