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Konfitma: DEA agent is ‘killed’; meth labs ‘found’
The 24-hour, full-scale, all-hazard exercise called Konfitma kicked off yesterday with five scenarios. (Ferdie de la Torre)
The 24-hour, full-scale, all-hazard exercise called Konfitma kicked off yesterday with five scenarios, including a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was “killed” due to gas exposure after a meth lab was “found” at the former La Fiesta Mall in San Roque.
As of press time, the biggest and fifth scenario—another meth lab is “discovered” at the former Telesource Building in As Gonno—was still ongoing.
When Saipan Tribune left the scene, at least four “bad guys” were “killed” by law enforcement snipers. Members of the Department of Public Safety’s elite Tactical Response Enforcement Team also barged inside the building.
Public information specialist Daisy Demapan said the other scenarios involved an “aircraft crash” near the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport, two shooters and an unmarked package at the departure terminal, and a search warrant at MIHA Housing for possible bio-terrorism.
In the meth lab scenario at the former La Fiesta Mall, responders found “mustard gas” and five DEA agents were “exposed” to the gas, Demapan said.
Demapan said medics brought the five DEA agents to the Commonwealth Healthcare Center but one was declared “dead on arrival.”
No one was “injured” in the plane crash scenario.
Demapan said the two “active shooters” have been apprehended and the “unmarked package” was contained.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents “served” a warrant in the MIHA Housing scenario.
Demapan said over 200 personnel participated at this year’s Konfitma.
The participants are from DPS, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Commonwealth Ports Authority, MIHA, Emergency Operations Center, Civil Support Team, and other agencies. Personnel from Tinian and Rota also joined the exercise.
Acting special assistant for CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Pete Leon Guerrero said this training is comprehensive. In some cases, the first responders were presented with scenarios they’ve never come across.
Konfitma is an annual exercise that started in 2009 on Saipan. It is in partnership between the CNMI and the U.S. Department of Defense, and various local and federal agencies.
