Man in ‘ice’ case indicted in fed court

The U.S. government on Thursday indicted a garment worker who was earlier reported as yielding the second biggest haul so far of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice” in the CNMI.

The indictment, however, indicated that 138 grams of “ice” were involved and not 176.6 grams (worth $80,000), as reported earlier by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Yong Ming Song, 41, was indicted with possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school with intent to distribute.

According to the indictment filed by assistant U.S. attorney James Benedetto, on Sept. 11, 2008, Song was found in possession of 138 grams of “ice” within 1,000 feet of the Marianas High School.

In Friday’s hearing, Song and his court-appointed counsel, Joey San Nicolas, waived reading of the indictment and pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David A. Wiseman remanded Song to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

According to DEA, Police Sgt. Anthony Macaranas and Police Officer Daniel Punimata recovered the drug haul during a random check on Song, whom they flagged down for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt.

Song is an employee of Rifu Garment Factory in San Vicente.

A DEA special agent stated in his report that on Sept. 11, 2008, at 10:40pm, Macaranas and Punimata were cruising along Beach Road in San Jose aboard a Department of Public Safety patrol car when they saw a white Toyota Corolla driving south.

The two officers noticed that the driver, later identified as Song, was not wearing a seatbelt. As the Toyota Corolla entered the Susupe area, Macaranas activated the police car’s emergency lights and stopped the vehicle.

As Song reached for the documents being requested by the officer, he was observed sweating and his hands were shaking.

The officers looked inside the vehicle and found a large plastic bag with a gray duffel bag inside it. Punimata opened the bag and found three Oil of Olay soap boxes that had been opened and then taped shut. The officer opened the boxes where he found 15 small ziplock bags containing “ice.”

Saipan Tribune learned that the 138 grams of “ice” is actually the third second biggest seizure of “ice” in the Commonwealth. The largest amount of “ice” seized was 370 grams when authorities raided the house of a couple on Saipan in August 2002.

The second largest was 170 grams when authorities in August 2001 arrested David Tanaka Diaz, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced.