Previous Story
DEA seizes marijuana plants
|
Posted on Jul 25 2008
With the aid of local police, Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized several marijuana plants during a three-day operation on Saipan and Tinian.
Saipan Tribune also learned from sources that during the operation on Saipan, a CNMI court employee was taken by DEA agents to their office in Garapan. A Judiciary van being used by the employee was also placed under investigation.
As of yesterday it was not clear whether the court employee was arrested or was only questioned.
Saipan Tribune contacted the Guam-based DEA resident agent-in-charge, Antonio Marquez, yesterday for details about the operation in the CNMI, but he was not available. Marquez didn’t return a message from Saipan Tribune seeking comment.
A KSPN 2 report last night identified the court employee as building superintendent Joe Guzman but there was no immediate police confirmation on this.
A check with the courts yesterday afternoon indicated that Guzman did not report for work the past two days. Court employees refused to comment on his whereabouts.
Sources said DEA agents used a helicopter to search for marijuana plants on Saipan on Tuesday and Wednesday. Local officers served as back up whenever the officers on the helicopter would spot potential marijuana plantations.
On Thursday, DEA agents, using the same helicopter, moved to Tinian where they also seized many marijuana plants, sources said.
