Sylvia San Nicolas Borja, a Tinian resident, was arrested at the Saipan International Airport. Approximately 0.75 grams of “ice” was recovered from her possession, authorities said.
Borja is being held on the charge of trafficking of a controlled substance, and illegal possession of controlled substance.
During Borja’s initial appearance yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona retained the $30,000 cash bail earlier imposed by Presiding Judge Robert Naraja.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Evangelista represented the government while Borja appeared without counsel.
After the hearing, she was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
In his affidavit of probable cause and complaint, Drug Enforcement Task Force Detective Sean White said Detective Norman Rasiang received information from a cooperating source that Borja arrived at the Saipan airport from Tinian on April 9, 2010.
Borja was on her way to purchase “ice” from a drug dealer on Saipan to bring back to Tinian for distribution, White said.
A surveillance operation was initiated by members of the CNMI Division of Customs and the Department of Public Safety’s Drug Enforcement Task Force with assistance from the K9 Unit, White added.
On same day, White together with Customs K9 Officers John Reyes and Ray Lizama were at the commuter terminal when Borja arrived to check in for her Tinian flight.
Upon Borja’s entrance to the departure area, the K9 conducted a search on all passengers and their belongings, including the defendant.
“Borja…admitted she was in possession of crystal methamphetamine and was brought into the arrival area for temporary detention while a search was conducted on her belongings and person,” said White.
According to White, Borja was sipping from a Hi-C box that “contained a clear plastic baggie containing a crystal-like substance.”
When the substance was tested through a Narcotic Identification Kit at the department’s Criminal Investigation Office in Susupe, White said the results showed “presumptive positive” for the presence of “ice.”
During investigation, Borja said she had smuggled “ice’ between Tinian and Saipan approximately three times this year.
“[Borja] admitted that she is an ‘ice’ distributor in Tinian,” White said.
Borja further told authorities that prior to her arrival on Saipan, she informed her source of “ice” about the arranged amount of the illegal drug she wanted to purchase and bring back to Tinian, White said.
