DPW official, 5 others arrested

A Department of Public Works official was arrested for alleged possession of methamphetamine or “ice” while five others were apprehended for trafficking of “ice” in separate operations against illegal drugs by the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration.

DPW Road and Grounds director Vicente Babauta Castro, 49, was served with an arrest warrant in San Roque for possession of a controlled substance.

When Castro was allegedly found in possession of “ice” last Oct. 18 in Chalan Piao, officers also had a K-9 dog search a Nissan Frontier truck that was issued to Castro and had a DPW logo. The truck was later impounded, according to court documents.

Arrested for “ice” trafficking were Paul Anthony Lizama, 29; Raymond Deleon Guerrero King, 52; John Benavente Reyes Jr., 39; Sheng Qui Yin, 45; and Michael Doria Dahil, 41.

All six were brought to the Superior Court yesterday for bail hearings. A $100,000 cash bail was imposed on each of the defendants.

Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio heard the case against all, except for Yin, who was taken before Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo. Assistant attorney general Chester Hinds appeared for the government in all cases. Assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit was appointed as counsel for all defendants.

Preliminary hearing for Castro will be on Dec. 14, while the remaining defendants will have theirs on Dec. 17.

The Department of Public Safety received an anonymous 911 call last Oct. 18 at 10:09am about a drug-dealing activity involving a DPW Nissan Frontier truck in Chalan Piao. Two responding police officers arrived at the house and saw the truck parked beside a car. The officers approached Castro and another man, who were both standing near the vehicles. The officers then interviewed Castro and the other man, who owns the house. Saipan Tribune opted to withhold the name of the other man as he has not been arrested yet.

Castro allegedly told the officer that he was in the area to check on a sewer drainage and because of calls about fallen trees. The officer, however, noticed that Castro appeared nervous. With Castro’s consent, the two officers, backed by other officers and a DPS dog, searched the truck.

Castro allegedly told the officers to go ahead and search the truck, but threatened to go after them if they fail to find anything in the vehicle.

During the K-9 sweep of the truck, an officer saw Castro throw something to the ground on the side of the house, then walk away. The officers checked the object that Castro had tossed and found it was a baggie containing approximately 0.36 gross grams of a crystalline substance. The substance allegedly tested presumptive positive for “ice.”

Castro was arrested and the truck was impounded.

In an interview with Castro at the Department of Corrections the following day, Oct. 19, Castro allegedly admitted to buying “ice” from a man at a residence in Kannat Tabla that same day he was arrested.

Castro allegedly said he proceeded to the Chalan Piao house using his truck, then smoked “ice” with the other person.

In Lizama’s case, the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration looked into reports last Nov. 7 that Lizama, also known as Poots, was selling drugs.

A “cooperating source” allegedly managed to buy from Lizama $150 and $180 worth of “ice” during “buy-walk” operations in Chalan Kanoa last Nov. 7 and 21, respectively.

In King’s case, a “cooperating source” allegedly bought from King $180 worth of “ice” and $180 more worth of “ice” during “buy-walk” operations in Chalan Kanoa last Nov. 27 and 28.

In Reyes’ case, a “cooperating defendant” was able to purchase from Reyes $100 worth of “ice” during a “buy-walk” operation at the parking lot of a poker arcade in Garapan on March 18, 2016.

The CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Reyes last Oct. 24 because of that alleged transaction, but he agreed to be a confidential informant and was released, subject to certain conditions. His refusal to cooperate with authorities led to his re-arrest in As Lito.

In Yin’s case, CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force and CNMI Customs Enforcement Unit conducted a controlled drug “buy-bust” operation last Saturday involving Yin’s alleged drug activities.

A “cooperating defendant” allegedly purchased from Yin $2,600 worth of “ice.” After the alleged deal, Yin, also known as Friend, left aboard a white Toyota Prius, but task force operatives followed him and stopped the car in Lower Dandan.

In Dahil’s case, a “cooperating source” managed to buy from Dahil $200 worth of “ice” and $50 worth of “ice” during “buy-walk” operations in Chalan Kanoa last Oct. 30 and Nov. 7, respectively.