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Court raises bail for suspected drug smuggler
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Posted on Jun 16 2000
Superior Court Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan yesterday found probable cause in the filing of criminal charges against a 25-year-old Korean who was caught trying to smuggle in $1.2 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice” at the Saipan International Airport.
Judge Manibusan increased the cash bail imposed on Gim Mahn Soo from $25,000 to $100,000. Chief Criminal Prosecutor Kevin Lynch wants it raised to $1 million, which is the street value of the “ice” found in his possession.
The illegal substance seized from Mr. Gim by Customs Division officers was considered the biggest drug bust on the island in the last two years.
But the lawyer for Mr. Gim argued that increasing the bail is immaterial since the suspect claimed he does not have any friends or relatives on the island. The suspect has refused to cooperate with the authorities, making it difficult for the police to identify his “connections” in the Northern Marianas.
The Attorney General’s Office charged Mr. Gim with two counts of felony: first count is importation of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice”, and second count is possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Customs authorities stumbled upon approximately four pounds of the illegal substance from the incoming passenger on June 10, 2000 after a thorough check of his luggage at the customs inspection area.
The package containing “ice”, well-concealed in the interior lining of a hard cover luggage, was detected with the aide of a Labrador trained to detect drugs under the CNMI’s K-9 Program. When the substance was found, a field test (NIK) was conducted and the results yielded positively for methamphetamine hydrochloride.
According to a Custom’s Officer who testified in court, Mr. Gim was chosen randomly from a long line of passengers on that day. Custom’s authorities have been on alert for passengers coming from the Philippines, which is considered a high risk area.
Mr. Gim arrived on Saipan aboard a Continental Micronesia flight early Saturday morning after transiting from Guam. The suspect originated from Korea and stopped over Manila before boarding a plane bound for Saipan via Guam. (LFR)
