THE Drug Enforcement Administration/CNMI Task Force yesterday arrested a customs officer and two other persons for allegedly selling methamphetamine on Rota.
Customs Inspector Jeremy S. Atalig was charged with one count of distribution of controlled substance.
Jose M. Sablan, a retired government employee, was charged with two counts of distribution of controlled substance. He was tagged as the alleged supplier of the group.
Sylvan T. Atalig was held for two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
The charges carry maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and three years of supervised release.
During yesterday’s initial appearance hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Alex R. Munson set a bail of $25,000 in unsecured bond for the three defendants.
Munson set the preliminary hearing for May 17.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney John Rice, the arrest of the three defendants came as a result of investigation conducted by the DEA/CNMI Task Force with the assistance from the Division of Customs Services and the Department of Public Safety.
Rice said the authorities were able to make five separate purchases of “ice” from the suspects. He said the amount of illegal drugs seized would be known later upon completion of the investigation.
According to court papers, the authorities’ confidential source learned that the group had been selling “ice” on Rota, prompting the DEA/CNMI Task Force to arrange a controlled buy.
The complaint alleged that the task force was able to purchase “ice” from Atalig last Feb. 9.
The task force purchased $400 worth of illegal drugs from Sablan last April 8 and 9.
The agent, the complaint said, bought $350 worth of “ice” from Sylvan Atalig last July 12 and 19.
The field tests as well as further tests by DEA proved that the substance purchased from the suspects was methamphetamine, court papers said.
