2 plead not guilty in ‘ice’ case

The two men who were arrested at the same house where methamphetamine or “ice” was allegedly being dispensed last Feb. 22 have pleaded not guilty to the allegations against them.

Both Rui Jin Huang 46, and Zhao Xin Zhu. 40, have been charged with possession of a controlled substance and trafficking of a controlled substance—allegations that they’ve denied.

Huang and Zhu were arrested on Feb. 22, 2019, following a sting operation in Chinatown, during which Drug Enforcement Task Force officers uncovered what seemed to be a meth dispensary and seized nearly $9,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, and packaging material.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho imposed a bail of $100,000 on both men on Feb. 22.

According to court documents, Huang, better known as “Brother,” was reportedly actively distributing “ice” to customers on Saipan and is known to be one of the main sources of methamphetamine. Zhu is reportedly the deliveryman of the controlled substance.

A cooperating defendant assisted law enforcement in conducting a monitored and recorded purchase from Huang.

On Feb. 21 at 9:40am, task force personnel met with the cooperating defendant to prepare for the operation to buy meth from Huang.

At around 9:53am, task force officers monitored a phone conversation between the cooperating defendant and Huang, where they agreed to meet at an abandoned carwash in Garapan. Task force officers gave the cooperating defendant $1,400 to buy 2 grams of meth from Huang.

They equipped the cooperating defendant with a wire and recording device to be used in the transaction.

At about 10:13am, task force officers observed a green Toyota Corolla park along the street directly south of the abandoned carwash. The man who exited the car was described as a tall and skinny Asian male dressed in black and was identified later as Huang.

Huang was seen entering the cooperating defendant’s car where the transaction was made.

Later, task force officers met with the cooperating defendant and got from him a small clear plastic baggie that contained a crystalline substance, the recording device, and the $300 that was unused.

The crystalline substance later tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

The task force surveillance teams then followed Huang’s vehicle to a compound in Chinatown where he and Zhu were arrested.