4 suspected ‘ice’ dealers fall

Four alleged members of two groups of suspected suppliers of methamphetamine or “ice” on Saipan were arrested by members of the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force over the weekend.

Vincent Hocog Pangelinan, also known as Ben, 32; Jonathon Samuel Pangelinan, also known as John, 28; Joaquin Adriano Jr., 33; and Justin Reyes Muna, 31, were all arrested in Kagman 3 on Friday night.

Brothers Vincent and Jonathon Pangelinan, Adriano, and Muna were arrested on charges of trafficking of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.

The four were brought yesterday before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, who imposed a $100,000 cash bail for each of the four suspects. Preliminary hearings will be on Dec. 13 at 1:30pm.

Assistant attorney general Chester Hinds appeared for the government.

Camacho appointed assistant public defender Nancy Dominski as counsel for Adriano and Muna. Private counsel will be appointed for Vincent and Jonathon Pangelinan.

According to court documents, task force officers first arrested Vincent Pangelinan and Adriano last June 23. Jonathon Pangelinan was arrested last July 1, and Muna last Aug. 26.

In the government’s motion to unseal filed on Friday, Hinds said the four defendants waived their constitutional rights and requested to assist law enforcers as confidential informants.

In exchange, Hinds said, the Department of Public Safety would agree to release them without cash bail subject to certain conditions. Hinds said the court then granted the government’s motion to seal the cases. However, Hinds said, the four have not cooperated with law enforcement. Thus, Hinds said, there is no need to continue keeping under seal all documents filed in these cases, nor should the defendants be allowed to remain free in light of their non-compliance.

The court granted the government’s motion on Friday. Task force officers re-arrested the defendants that same day.

Task force officer Roque K. Camacho stated in his report that a cooperating defendant managed to buy $100 worth of “ice” from Vincent Pangelinan during a “buy walk” operation at the latter’s residence in Kagman last March 17.

Camacho said a cooperating source was able to buy $130 worth of “ice” from Jonathon Pangelinan and Adriano at the same Kagman residence last March 31.

Task force operatives arrested the Pangelinan brothers and Adriano last July 23 based on the two drug transactions.

In Muna’s case, Camacho said Muna allegedly conspired with two other drug suppliers to sell $120 worth of “ice” to a cooperating source during a “buy walk operation” last Aug. 18 at a residence in Lower Miha, Garapan.