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Couple, man arrested for ‘ice’ trafficking, possession
The CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested last week a man and his common-law wife for alleged trafficking in methamphetamine or “ice” while another man was arrested for “ice” possession.
Luis Pedro R. Demapan, 45, and Lorraine Sanchez Ada, 39, were arrested for trafficking and illegal possession of a controlled substance. David M. Sablan, 34, was arrested for illegal possession of a controlled substance.
At a hearing last Thursday, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo imposed a $100,000 cash bail on Demapan and Ada, and $5,000 cash on Sablan.
Preliminary hearing for Demapan and Ada will be this Friday at 9am, while Sablan’s will be this Wednesday at 9am.
The court will appoint a private counsel for Demapan and Ada, while Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig was appointed as counsel for Sablan.
A confidential source of the task force managed to buy from Demapan $250 and $300 worth of “ice” during a first and second “buy-walk operation in Dandan and in Susupe last Oct. 25 and Nov. 3. During a third “buy-walk” operation in Chalan Laulau last Nov. 3, Ada, in the presence of Demapan and their minor child, handed $150 worth of “ice” to the confidential source.
When arrested last Dec. 1, Demapan and Ada volunteered to help law enforcement as “cooperating defendants” and were released.
With their help, the task force managed to arrest a Chinese national for “ice” during a “buy-walk” operation last Dec. 2.
Since then, Demapan and Ada have not been following the conditions of their agreement with the task force and were re-arrested last Wednesday.
In Sablan’s case, he tried to punch and hit a man with a baton during an argument over a wall power outlet at a poker arcade in San Antonio last Oct. 1. The victim called 911, resulting in Sablan’s arrest that same day.
While being transported to the Department of Corrections, Sablan told one officer that there was drug paraphernalia inside his pouch and to get rid of it. The officer allegedly found from the pouch three baggies of “ice” and one glass pipe. Sablan allegedly admitted that the seized “ice” and the glass pipe belonged to him.
