CORRECTIONS Commissioner Anthony Torres on Friday said an arrestee, James Camacho, was found with approximately 111 grams of crystal methamphetamine after being taken into custody on the evening of July 11, 2024.
Camacho had a bench warrant for failure to show up for a drug court date, Torres said in a press conference on Friday.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, who was also present at the press conference, said police officers pulled Camacho over and then attempted to search his person and property.
Camacho refused the search but was still taken to Corrections because of his bench warrant.
Once there, Torres said drugs were found during a routine search of Camacho’s Pelican case and other belongings.
Inside were a small bag of meth, a scale, a pipe, a knife, and other items.
Torres thanked the CNMI and federal law enforcement community, including his Corrections staff, DPS, the CNMI judiciary marshals, CNMI Customs and Quarantine, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.
“Drug interdiction is a top priority for this team,” Torres said. “We’re actively working to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs that plague our streets and endanger our community. The harm caused by illegal drugs cannot be understated.”
The discovery of the meth on Camacho comes days after 1.1 pounds or around $155,000 worth of meth was found in a portable speaker sent from California and intercepted at the Port of Saipan.
In June 2024 the Guam Daily Post quoted Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio as saying that two of Guam’s three fentanyl fatalities had a “cocktail mix” of illegal substances in their blood stream that mixed meth and fentanyl.
At the press conference on Friday, Variety asked CNMI law enforcement officials about their preparedness in stopping the entry of fentanyl.
Customs Col. Jesse Atalig said they are “taking a look at our capabilities as far as [personal protective equipment is concerned] to include Narcan,” referring to a nasal spray used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid medicines.
He added: “We know it’s right next door so we need to be prepared for it.”
Torres said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has provided Corrections and DPS with stashes of Narcan. He believes fentanyl will eventually make it to the CNMI.
“We as leaders are going to continue to discuss and figure out a plan, and again it’s not if, but when,” he added.
Macaranas said his officers are “very vigilant” when it comes to drug searches and seizures.
He reminds the public to be vigilant, too.
“It’s going to destroy families, it’s going to destroy your friend, it could destroy you,” he said. “The family has to step up and be very mindful … that it will affect a lot of people.”
James Camacho
