WAILUKU, Maui — A 44-year-old Kahului man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison in a case that involved the largest drug seizure in Maui history.

Police recovered 18.5 pounds of cocaine and 6 pounds of crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated $1.5 million when they raided Patrick Aniban's South Pu'unene Avenue home on Jan. 19, 2007. Officers also recovered $114,000 in cash hidden in a safe that had been built into the concrete floor of the garage and found an ounce of marijuana.

Aniban pleaded no contest in June to 10 charges, including criminal conspiracy, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking and promotion of a controlled substance near a school or public park, in this case, Kamali'i Park.

Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza followed the plea agreement that called for 20 years imprisonment and a four-year mandatory minimum term before Aniban is eligible for parole.

Aniban's wife, Ohia, 34, is charged with similar crimes and is negotiating a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to attorneys involved in the case. At the time of her arrest, she was a first-grade teacher at Christ The King School in Kahului.

The Anibans, who have a 10-year-old daughter, also owned two Subway outlets, in Kahului and on Moloka'i.

The cocaine and crystal meth were found in plastic jugs of Folgers coffee and creatine, a nutritional supplement, in a storage area attached to the residence, according to police. Five more jugs containing drugs and three large plastic bags holding crystal meth were stashed in the trunk of a 1965 red Volkswagen Karmann Ghia parked in the garage and covered by a tarp.

A co-defendant in the case, Matthew Otterson, 36, of Makawao, told police he had gone to California and Las Vegas with Aniban in August and November 2006, taking a large amount of cash in carry-on bags.

Otterson said Aniban bought cocaine and crystal methamphetamine during the trips and packed the drugs in the plastic jugs, which were resealed and brought back to Maui in checked luggage.

Defense attorney Michael Green noted that Aniban cooperated with authorities from the outset of the case, and submitted 72 letters from relatives, friends and others in support of the man. The letters recalled that prior to his recent troubles, Aniban had worked his way up from humble beginnings and had helped friends, relatives and others along the way.

However, Green also acknowledged his client's "dark side," which he said led to Aniban's wife "getting sucked into this thing."

Deputy prosecutor Mark Simonds characterized Aniban as the principal player in the drug-smuggling ring. Motivated by money, Aniban "acted without regard to the Maui community," Simonds said.

A tearful Aniban told Cardoza: "I have no excuse for my actions. This is the biggest lesson in my life. If I could go back and undo what I did, I would. From the bottom of my heart I just want to say I'm ashamed and sorry and I ask for forgiveness from all the people on Maui who are affected, especially my friends and family."

Before issuing the sentence, Cardoza told Aniban the positive things he had done in his life had to be weighed against the lives ruined by his drug operation.

"I see every day the impacts of people addicted to drugs," the judge said.

Because he cooperated with police, Otterson was allowed to plead no contest to reduced charges and was sentenced last week to a suspended one-year jail term and five years' probation.

A fourth defendant, Wallace Koga, 58, of Kula, is awaiting sentencing for his role in the drug ring.