‘Lack of K9 program makes Rota vulnerable to drugs’

Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) and CNMI Division of Customs director Jose Mafnas discussed the absence of a canine and certified handler to inspect baggage at the Rota ports, in letters between the two officials in recent weeks.

Manglona, in a Feb. 22, 2016, letter, said Rota’s K9 program has not been operation since 2012, after its only drug canine was transferred to Saipan, and called current manual inspections “time-consuming” and making “our borders more vulnerable to illegal drug importations when detection dogs are not being used.”

Sniffer dogs, Manglona said, were not only used at the Rota airport but also at its two seaport facilities. “We all understand that our government is in a tight financial situation. However…this worsening drug crisis in all our islands must be given top priority if we are to successfully combat the threat, trafficking, and use of illegal drugs.”

In his response on Friday, Mafnas said the detector dog in question was recalled to Saipan after it had failed its annual evaluation.

“The decision was made to protect the detector dog from further regression,” Mafnas said, citing information he received from Captain Jesse Atalig, Custom’s Drug Detector Dog Training Senior instructor.

“Accordingly, the handler was not re-certified due to the non-pass evaluation,” Mafnas said.

Manglona, in his letter, also said none of Rota’s Customs officers are able to carry firearms because of a lack of certification and asked for information to get these officers trained and certified.

“This is alarming as these officers are at the frontline at our ports of entry, and some flights coming in from Guam do not have to clear Transportation Security Administration screening,” Manglona said.

On this issue, Mafnas said, “the only delay is the availability of a firearm instructor to travel to Rota to conduct the required 40-hour “Firearm Safety Course” and to certify and re-certify the officers.

“I have recently looked into this matter,” Mafnas said. “I have contacted CPA Ports Police firearm instructor Captain Melvin Manahan about conducting firearm course in Rota…Manahane informed me that he is currently waiting for CPA’s new firearms to shipment to arrive. Upon arrival, he will bring the necessary gear to Rota to conduct the training.”

Mafnas also said there are three Rota Customs officers participating in a current basic training program that started on Feb. 29 and will last six weeks, adding that he is confident these three officers will be certified to carry firearms at the end of the training.