5 nabbed for pot

Authorities had three separate run-ins with individuals in possession of illegal substances over the weekend.

Apparently another screaming indicator that Saipan’s drug problem is far from being complete eliminated, police discovered the controlled substances in the hands of both teenagers and adults.

At the Saipan Grand Hotel parking lot Friday, authorities took custody of two juveniles and an adult who tried to conceal pieces of green leafy substances inside a bag. The substances were later identified as marijuana.

The three were tipped off to police by hotel employees, who suspected that the group was consuming alcohol and possibly smoking marijuana within hotel premises.

The three suspects initially told police they were there to use the toilet.

Police arrested the suspects inside a parked vehicle outside the hotel. Prior to their arrest, authorities performed a consent search inside their vehicle, where traces of marijuana were seized inside a bag.

The group was arrested for charges on minor consuming alcohol and illegal possession of controlled substances.

The teenagers were remanded to the juvenile detention while the adult was transported to the Division of Corrections.

Still on Friday, another Chinese male was held in possession of marijuana near the Bank of Saipan Chalan Kanoa Branch at around 10pm.

The suspect, 30-year-old Zhi Yi Zhang from Koblerville, was initially flagged down by police officers in search for his registration sticker.

When Mr. Zhang pulled over, police asked to do a consent search inside his vehicle.

When the suspect signaled his approval, authorities started to scan inside his vehicle where green, leafy substances were found hidden in the middle of the compartment between the driver’s and the passenger’s seat.

The substances believed to be marijuana were concealed inside a wrapped piece of clothing.

A Customs Services officer with his K-9 dog were summoned to the scene for assistance. The experts confirmed that Mr. Zhang did carry marijuana inside his vehicle compartment.

The suspect was then arrested for illegal possession of marijuana.

Meanwhile, a 29-year-old Chamorro male from Papago was also booked Saturday for drug raps after police officers found a black pouch inside his vehicle containing marijuana.

The suspect who was driving down Middle Road Gualo Rai with a companion was pulled over for a violator stop.

A consent search was also executed by police which led to the discovery of the controlled substances.

Police records reveal that the suspect voluntarily told police the contents of the black pouch were illegal drugs.

He was then arrested for the offense. (MM)