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DPS chief: Focus on war on drugs
Deleon Guerrero advocates for creation of drug court, establishment of rehab center
In order to keep the CNMI safe for residents, businesses, and tourists, law enforcement efforts should focus on the drug problem, particularly methamphetamine or “ice,” according to Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Deleon Guerrero.
Speaking at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s general membership meeting at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall Wednesday, Deleon Guerrero also advocated for the creation of a drug court in the CNMI and the need to establish a drug rehabilitation center.
Just about every other crime that is committed in the Commonwealth is one way or another linked to illegal drugs, he said. “We have a serious drug problem in the CNMI.”
Deleon Guerrero believes that in order for the CNMI to be able bring back public safety to the way it was 30 to 40 years ago, the focus should be on eradicating the problem of illegal drugs or “ice.”
DPS, he said, is mindful that it cannot do the job alone in the war against “ice” so they have been reaching out to their federal partners.
Law enforcement, he said, has to be very active in terms of going after drug dealers. At the same time, the war against drugs should be balanced with taking care of drug users, he said, which means the CNMI must put up a drug rehabilitation center.
At present, he said, the CNMI has no capacity to build the rehabilitation center but he is hoping that, with the administration’s leadership, the program will eventually be realized.
He also highlighted a need to have a drug court in the Commonwealth. Over the last few years, components of the justice system have been talking about the creation of a drug court but that hasn’t materialized.
“The reason why I’m advocating for the creation of a drug court is because it can help mitigate a lot of things that happen when it comes to the rehabilitation process,” he said.
The idea of a drug court has had some encouraging responses from federal partners and it is something they are currently considering, he said.
Deleon Guerrero said he is hoping that with the focus on the war on drugs, the CNMI would no longer be profitable for drug dealers to continue to come in and market “ice.”
