Court denies bail for 3 in drug smuggling case

US District Court Judge Alex R. Munson denied yesterday bail for three defendants who stand accused of smuggling some 40 grams of crystal metamphetamine or ice into Saipan on April 24, 2001.

The defendants, all citizens of Japan, showed up at the federal court for their initial appearance yesterday where they expressed desire to retain their own counsels.

Masanobu Miyamoto, 39, Takayuki Kaji, 39, and Masakazu Imamura, 54, have been ordered to appear again in court for a preliminary hearing on May 4.

They are currently detained by federal authorities without bail based on the severity of charges leveled against them. They are accused with one count of conspiracy to import ice.

“The defendant[s] pose as flight risks since [they] have no reason to stay in this jurisdiction, since they have no ties with the community,” Mr. Munson said.

The suspects face a maximum of 40 years and minimum of five years imprisonment should they be convicted of the charges, according to Asst. US Attorney John J. Rice.

The three arrived as tourists at the Saipan International Airport Tuesday, where they were discovered to be in possession of a controlled substance.

Mr. Miyamoto and Mr. Kaji were detained at the airport after Customs Services officials found them with 39.6 grams of ice hidden under their belongings. The quantity of ice they allegedly smuggled into the island has a street value of $60,000.

Customs agents who performed a routine search on the suspects discovered the illegal substances strapped on Mr. Miyamoto’s waste.

Authorities were also able to seize from Mr. Kaji a large quantity of empty ziplock baggies, which according to Mr. Rice, is commonly used in packaging crystal metamphetamine for sale in the black market.

After he was taken under custody, Mr. Miyamoto reportedly agreed to cooperate with authorities by signing a Japanese language rights waiver form and providing information.

The 39-year-old claimed Mr. Imamura hired him to smuggle the drugs into Saipan in exchange for $8,000.

Mr. Kaji also echoed statements made by Mr. Miyamoto, claiming innocence from the whole situation.

He even told authorities he only began to suspect something amiss when he saw Mr. Imamura hand over empty ziplock baggies to Mr. Miyamoto, which were placed inside his bag.

In cooperating with authorities, the two younger suspects agreed to have their phone calls with the alleged mastermind bugged.