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CPA pledges to help block entry of drugs
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Posted on Mar 12 2001
The Commonwealth Ports Authority disclosed plans to work closely with the Division of Customs to bar entry of illegal drugs particularly ice amid reports of CNMI being used by drug syndicates as transit point.
Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said efforts have been stepped up to determine ways that would facilitate arrest of the entry of illegal drugs into the Northern Marianas.
Although drug detection and confiscation operations are handled by Customs Division, CPA said it will join hands with the agency to map out an effective plan against entry of prohibited substances into the islands.
This, following the recent confiscation of greeting cards from the Philippines that contained grams of ice. The cards that allegedly contained $5,000 worth of ice were detected by K-9 dogs in Rota.
Mr. Salas said CPA is willing to share expertise on security measures and other aspects in dealing with airport facility operations should there be a need to immediately launch massive campaign against illegal drugs.
Reports claimed Saipan is slowly turning into a major importer of crystal methamphetamine with customs division reported to have confiscated over $2.5 million worth of highly-prohibited drugs in 1998 alone.
The report further said that Saipan has been used as entry point for illegal drugs that are smuggled to Hawaii, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, and other areas in the Pacific and the United States.
Earlier, customs officials disclosed that a syndicate might be behind the intercepted mails with drugs and eyeing Rota as its transit point.
The customs division has stepped up efforts to ensure that drugs will not be able to enter the Commonwealth. (EGA)
