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‘Ice flooding the streets of Tinian’
DPS conducts 3-day HICI operations, 5 arrested, 30 violator stops on vehicles were made
Crystal methamphetamine or “ice” has been flooding the streets of Tinian, devastating many families, according to Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas and Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero.
To address this concern, Saipan DPS Special Enforcement Action Section, Boating Safety Section, and the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigations, in conjunction with the Department of Finance’s Division of Customs K-9 Unit, did a three-day Highway Criminal Interdiction Patrol on Tinian over the weekend—a first.
The operation netted 30 violator stops on vehicles and five arrests for illegal possession of controlled substances (“ice” and marijuana) and for violation of the open container law.
At a press conference yesterday on Saipan, Tinian Mayor San Nicolas said that, just like in any other island or community in the Commonwealth, “ice” has devastated families throughout San Jose on Tinian. He said the same thing probably happens in Kagman and Tanapag on Saipan and Sinapalo on Rota.
“We are one village and there has been a flood of this drug on the streets of Tinian,” the mayor said.
San Nicolas said the people of Tinian and its leadership are thankful to Deleon Guerrero for his leadership in working closely with Tinian DPS resident head John Santos in their effort to root out the “ice” problem.
San Nicolas said they support and join the commissioner’s “war on ice.”
“We appreciate all the efforts that you and other colleagues in the law enforcement are doing,” he said, as he thanked Customs and Finance Secretary Larissa Larson and the Tinian leadership for making the HICI operation a success.
Deleon Guerrero said they believe from the very beginning that the department needs to come out with a comprehensive strategy to curtail criminal activities in the Commonwealth.
For the most part, he said, the root of majority of crimes in the Commonwealth is linked to drug abuse.
Deleon Guerrero said they assisted the Tinian DPS in carrying out the weekend operation at the request of San Nicolas and in coordination with the Division of Customs K-9 unit as well as Tinian DPS resident director Santos.
“We believe that the operation was quite successful in terms of us meeting our objectives. I am very pleased with the outcome,” he said.
“This is only the beginning. We are going to be taking a number of steps in the future to ensure that public safety is not compromised in any of the two municipalities,” Deleon Guerrero said.
In this case, Deleon Guerrero said, when there is a flood of “ice” within a community, it is only appropriate that they provide the additional backing necessary.
DPS Boating Safety commander Sgt. Thomas Blas disclosed that 14 Saipan police officers, two Saipan K-9 officers, and two K-9 dogs conducted the HICI operations on Tinian from Friday to Sunday.
Blas said they patrolled areas where criminal activities are reportedly high and most likely to be committed.
With 30 violator stops made on vehicles, Blas said that five were arrested for illegal possession of “ice” and marijuana and for violating the law that does not allow open containers of alcoholic beverages inside vehicles.
He said among the five arrested was Tinian Department of Community and Cultural Affairs maintenance worker Gary Michael Cruz Cepeda, who was apprehended for possession of “ice.”
Blas said two of the arrested were male minors for illegal possession of marijuana.
Blas said 21 active traffic citations were issued for various traffic offenses.
Tinian DPS resident director Santos it is a big concern for a small island community to have a flood of crystal meth.
“Like what the commissioner and the mayor said, I would like to emphasize that this is just the beginning. We will pursue this and put a stop, not only for Tinian but CNMI wide,” Santos said.
