US mainland another source of ‘ice’—Mafnas

Jose C. Mafnas

Traffickers of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” now find the U.S. mainland as another source market for their drugs, according to CNMI Customs Biosecurity director Jose C. Mafnas in a news briefing last Monday.

Mafnas also disclosed that they have not encountered for some time now any smuggling attempt of meth coming from the Philippines. Mafnas said drug traffickers are probably afraid to risk it, considering that plane passengers from the Philippines have to clear Guam Customs first, plus they have to pass through the U.S. Transportation Security Administration.

During Monday’s news briefing about last week’s seizure of $314,400 worth of “ice” at the U.S. Postal Service office in Chalan Kanoa, Mafnas said that the CNMI’s “ice” supply used to come from China before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now it’s coming from the U.S. mainland.

He said his information is that containers out of China are getting scrutinized by the Chinese government so traffickers are being forced to route their drugs through the U.S. mainland before getting them here in the CNMI.

Even in Guam, Mafnas said a lot of meth in the U.S. territory are being intercepted at the post office from the U.S. mainland.

“We’re not surprised,” he said, adding that they put adequate Customs personnel at the U.S. Postal Service office, both at the front and back of the facility, to ensure that all packages are screened and inspected, if necessary.

Last Thursday, CNMI Customs officers arrested Li Bing, a Chinese male national, who allegedly picked up a package containing 1,048 grams of crystal methamphetamine with a total street value of $314,400, during a routine inspection at the U.S. Postal Service office.

As for the drop in the street value of “ice” from the previous value of $500 per gram to $300 now, Mafnas said he is not going to discount the possibility that there may be an increase in the amount of crystal meth circulating in the community.

“When we see that the price goes down, then we are concerned,” he said.

He pointed out that whenever they receive information about the “ice” supply, they don’t just sit back and think about it. He said they immediately engage their officers to focus and use every resources and equipment they have such as the K9 dogs to make sure that this dangerous drug doesn’t reach the community.

“If it slips through the cracks, we have our partners, the Department of Public Safety, that can take the lead on it,” Mafnas said.

He said even private entities serve as their ears and eyes in the fight against illegal drugs.

Mafnas said he takes it seriously when he hears that “ice” is readily available out there or there is an increase in the number of “ice” users because this is Customs’ responsibility to stop it at the port of entry. He said it is cheaper and easier to control drugs when they intercept it at the port of entry.

“I always mention to our new recruits, our new cadets that, ‘Hey, it’s not the Navy seals or the special forces who is responsible to guard our borders here. It’s the CNM Customs Biosecurity. We are responsible,’” he said.

But comparing today’s “ice” problem to how it was in 2013, Mafnas said it was worse back then because “ice” was “all over, available everywhere.”

Department of Public Safety assistant chief of police Lawrence Camacho, who was also present during Monday’s press briefing, said if “ice” is distributed in the community, there’s a lot of investigation needed.

“Sometimes we don’t catch all of it once it hits the street. When we get this on our front door, it is best that we get that before it gets distributed because it is more difficult for us to track it,” said Camacho, referring to the importance of intercepting the meth at the ports and post office.