Maratita, a CNMI Customs inspector, and Sablan were separately arrested by the local Drug Enforcement Task Force.
They appeared in Govendo’s courtroom yesterday under the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Associate Judge David Wiseman issued the arrest orders and search warrants for the houses of Maratita and Sablan at Batto Place in San Antonio.
Assistant Attorney General Eli Golob from the civil division represented the government.
Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke represented Maratita, while the court appointed a lawyer for Sablan.
Drug Enforcement Task Force Detective Francine Nekai stated in his affidavit that Detective Sean White and Criminal Investigation Bureau chief Sgt. Paul Ogumoro received information from a cooperating source that he could purchase “ice” from Maratita.
“Maratita told the [cooperating source] should he want to purchase ‘ice’ he could personally check [the defendant] at his residence in San Antonio or find him at his work [at CNMI] Customs Service,” Nekai stated.
On April 21, 2010, members of the Drug Enforcement Task Force set up a controlled buy operation wherein the cooperating source purchased $50 worth of “ice” from Maratita at his residence.
After taking the money from the cooperating source, Maratita exited Sablan’s residence and informed the cooperating source that the defendant had only $20 worth of “ice” and returned his $30, Nekai said.
“[Maratita] then informed the [cooperating source] to come back later and [the defendant] would have more ‘ice’ with him,” Nekai said.
A field test was done on the “ice” sold by Maratita and it showed presumptive positive result, Nekai added.
Later on the same day, authorities again set up a controlled buy utilizing the same cooperating source who was able to purchase $50 worth of “ice” from Maratita.
“During the buy the [cooperating source] met Maratita along the road leading to his residence and followed them to the [defendant’s] family compound in San Antonio,” Nekai said.
