Lawmen seize 64 marijuana plants in Kagman

Authorities confiscated about 64 marijuana plants yesterday morning from a residential area in Kagman II, according to the Department of Public Safety.

DPS spokesman Eric F. David said an anonymous tip reporting marijuana plants growing at the Kagman II area was received at 10am. A task force composed of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Special Investigation Section verified the information and found the plants.

“We had the task force go out and verify that information…which came up finding 64 plants at the residence,” David said.

This is the first marijuana bust of the year. David said the haul is estimated to have a street value of $800.

The plants cultivated, up to 10 feet in height, were processed and inventoried for accountability by the department’s evidence room staff.

“With the amount of all these plants, we think there was intent to distribute these plants,” he said.

He said no arrests were made because there was no one at the scene when authorities arrived to conduct the raid. He also declined to identify the owner of the place where the plants were seized.

David said the plants will be taken to the airport today and burned at the facility’s incinerator.

David, who is also the NMI Crime Stoppers coordinator, did not clarify if the tip came through the Crime Stoppers tips line or through an informant of the task force.

“I still need to verify that,” he said.

He disclosed, though, that the Crime Stoppers program has been receiving tips related to several incidents but some of these need more detailed information.

“We are still getting information through Crime Stoppers… We want callers to call back to give more detailed information so we can go out and get these people growing these marijuana plants,” he said.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Caller ID is never used and all calls and online tips remain anonymous.

Anonymous online tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers website at www.nmicrimestoppers.com.

The Crime Stoppers also takes tips in over 150 languages.

Since its inception on April 18, 1989, the NMI Crime Stoppers program has received tips that resulted in 210 cases being cleared, including two homicide cases. A total of 167 arrests were made, and about $10,150 have been paid out as rewards.

Also, a total of $2,581,778 in narcotics and property have been recovered. Statistics indicate that about $2,383,985 in narcotics and $197,793 in property have been recovered.

Anyone with information on any crime is urged to call the Crime Stoppers tips line at 234-7272 (PARA). The line is always answered.