Reflecting on Labor Day; protecting our borders

Customs lieutenant John Henry Maratita Sablan, third from right, poses with the Special Enforcement Branch composed of the K-9 Unit, X-Ray Unit and Investigations. (Office of the Governor)

After receiving the distinction of overall government employee of the year, John Henry Maratita Sablan states that without his team and network of support, it would not have been possible.

As the customs lieutenant for the Special Enforcement Branch, Sablan provides direct support for the division’s K-9, Investigation, and X-Ray Unit.

“I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement and I was very fortunate that a spot in Customs opened up one day. I’ve worked my way up ever since, starting in operations, to clearing passengers, then the K-9 Unit and later I moved to investigations,” he said.

Under the Special Enforcement Branch, Sablan’s days usually start very early before the first vessel or domestic airline arrives. “Usually by midnight we begin our briefing as to what happened the night before because we focus on all airports, seaports, and post offices.”

With 18 Customs personnel manning the borders and two K-9 handlers from the Department of Public Safety, Sablan said the team must be very well-rounded to tackle 24-hour operations every day.

“At this time, we’re in the process of constructing a new kennel and we’ll be able to house more canines and reopen the Pacific Regional Detector Dog Center. We currently have four canines on the job and four more undergoing training. This would not have been possible without our leadership’s support and our team,” he said.

After almost 15 years in public service, Sablan’s most memorable moment on the job was a $4.2-million drug seizure. The bust intercepted 12 kilograms of methamphetamine from an incoming container and was discovered after a weeklong inspection of electronic components and apparel.

“Intercepting these drugs and contraband and being part of the biggest bust in the CNMI’s history is something that keeps me going. The job is very rewarding and I’m always excited to work with the people on board. It makes it even more rewarding with the continued support of Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson, [Customs] director [Jose] Mafnas, and Gov. [Ralph DLG] Torres,” he said.

The strong working relationship within his team makes the job more rewarding and Sablan dedicates it all to his coworkers and mentors.

“We’ve worked so long together, and we know customs operations throughout. The Oceania Customs Organization has also benefited Customs as a whole by getting all the officers trained on the latest trends and helping us gain more confidence to carry out our duties,” he said. “We try to keep the CNMI safe at the borders, but we also collect taxes, and this is a big part of making the economy work. I think we’ve done a great job with collecting revenue as well as enforcing the law. At the end of the day, I want to give a shout out to my team, especially to the Special Enforcement Branch and the Drug Enforcement Task Force. Without them, I wouldn’t have received this award.”

During the CNMI Labor Day festivities last Aug. 25, Sablan recognized Torres’ War on Ice initiative and expressed his gratitude to his mother, Vice Speaker Janet U. Maratita (R-Saipan), for instilling in him the values of respect and strong work ethic.

Mafnas said the K-9 Unit serves a dual purpose: Dealing with the detection of narcotics and tracking and apprehension of wanted criminals; the X-Ray Unit facilitates with the inspection of baggage and imported cargo.

“These enforcement units are the backbone for all customs investigations of contraband and illegal narcotics. Our officers are assigned at ports of entry and ensure that our community is protected, and revenues are collected. Overall, I am extremely proud of our special enforcement team and commend their excellent work,” Mafnas said. (PR)