KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews) — Authorities in Palau confiscated methamphetamine and ammunition in two separate drug busts in February, leading to felony charges against the defendants, the Attorney General’s Office has announced.
Charges range from trafficking a controlled substance to possession of ammunition.
On March 1, Horseley Saka was charged with five counts of possession of ammunition and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
According to police reports, officers conducting routine surveillance in Meyuns spotted two individuals in a van. One was seen holding a clear pipe to his mouth while lighting it with a flame.
Narcotics Enforcement Unit officers approached and identified the individuals. After obtaining consent to search, officers said they found Saka in possession of two glass pipes and a small straw containing a white crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine.
A further search of Saka’s handbag revealed five .38-caliber bullets stored in a case, along with scissors and straws.
Under Palau law, possession of ammunition is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or a maximum prison sentence of five years if convicted.
In a separate case, the AG’s office charged Marbou Burton Wong, also known as Marbou Burton, with one count of trafficking a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Police said Burton was found in possession of 0.51 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.
A conviction for trafficking a controlled substance carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years in prison and a fine of no less than $50,000.
Both cases highlight the ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal drugs.
