DPS chief vows more operations vs drug traffickers

With the arrest of seven suspected distributors of methamphetamine or “ice” last week, Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero has promised more operations in his war against “ice” in the Commonwealth.

Deleon Guerrero reminded those who are using “ice” to stop and seek immediate help.

“DPS has a zero tolerance policy against meth offenders and those caught will be charged and be brought before the courts,” the commissioner said.

As this developed, three of the arrested seven suspected “ice” suppliers—Shaboo Cabrera Sablan, 25; John Richard Palacios Deleon Guerrero, 39; and Rui Jun Huang, 34—were taken to Superior Court for bail hearings on Friday morning.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, however, released Sablan and Huang on a $100,000 and $10,000 unsecured bond, respectively, after the Department of Public Safety failed to bring them to court within 24 hours after their arrest.

Camacho reminded the government to follow the 24-hour rule.

“There is no 48-hour rule,” the judge pointed out.

Camacho told Sablan and Huang that although they are temporarily released, their cases are not over yet and that they need to appear for their arraignment on June 1 at 9am.

Camacho maintained the $100,000 cash bail imposed on Deleon Guerrero.

Deleon Guerrero’s preliminary hearing will be tomorrow, Tuesday, at 1:30pm.

The four other suspects, all Chinese nationals, were taken to court for bail hearings on Thursday. They are Zhi Peng Huang, 36; Ming Ming Zhang, 26; Xiu Hui Wang, 36; and Da Mei Zhang, 29, also known as Mei Mei. A $100,000 cash bail was imposed on each of them.

Office of the Attorney General investigator George F. David stated in his report that a “cooperating source” managed to purchase $100 worth of 0.3 gross grams of “ice” from Sablan at his residence along Bakke Street in Susupe last March 12 and $100 worth of 0.4 gross grams outside his residence last March 13.

Police officer Raymond Camacho stated in his report that a “cooperating source” was able to buy $220 worth of “ice” from Deleon Guerrero in the parking lot of U-Luck Poker in Gualo Rai last April 16 and $220 worth of “ice” from another person at the same location last April 17.

Saipan Tribune opted not to disclose the suspected “ice” supplier at the April 17 transaction as it’s not clear whether police have already arrested him.

DPS Commissioner Deleon Guerrero said they are seeking the community’s assistance in locating another suspected “ice” supplier, Joshua Sablan Diaz.

Deleon Guerrero congratulated all the detectives, agents, and investigators who worked in the cases against eight persons.

“It is a clear testament of the Commonwealth and federal law enforcement community’s resolve to end the proliferation of crystal methamphetamine in our small island jurisdiction,” he said.

Over the past two years, CNMI and federal law enforcement efforts had reportedly caused the removal of over $740,000 worth of “ice” from the streets.

Deleon Guerrero said the entire CNMI law enforcement community is united on the “war on ice.”

At the recent operations, authorities searched four residences and seized two vehicles in the process. The cases were investigated by personnel assigned to the joint DPS-Division of Customs Interagency Financial Crimes and Drug Enforcement Task Force.