HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A magistrate’s complaint filed in the case of a traffic stop drug bust earlier this week provided more details into what was discovered and how the two people arrested allegedly were behaving.
Brian Anthony Duenas Quidachay and Brittney Jean San Nicolas Duenas are in a romantic relationship, according to the Guam Police Department. The couple was discovered with a large quantity of drugs, money and drug paraphernalia during a routine traffic stop on Thursday.
Officers quickly recognized Duenas, who had been arrested previously on suspicion of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and found that she had an active warrant for her arrest in that case.
During the traffic stop, police said they observed Quidachay “fidgeting” with a green plastic container on his lap, while Duenas fidgeted with a large bag on the passenger floorboard.
Officers said Quidachay’s cheeks appeared sunken, and he could not keep his hands still.
For safety reasons, Quidachay was asked to step out of the vehicle and in the process he “quickly tucked the green plastic container toward the crevice of the center console area with his right hand, and frantically reached inside both of the pockets of his shorts, which appeared to be bulging. When asked about the green container, defendant 1 said, ‘What green container?'”
During a pat-down of Quidachay, police said he dropped a syringe.
“His pockets also yielded bundles of loose cash and a clear, resealable plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine. Defendant 1 then consented to a search of the car,” police said in the complaint.
A vehicle search yielded baggies containing suspected methamphetamine in the center console, the green container and a backpack in the bed of the truck.
Bundles of cash also were discovered in a black pouch, along with digital scales, clear plastic bags, syringes and other drug paraphernalia, the complaint said.
GPD estimated the drugs to total 65 grams and the cash to total $4,132.
While no guns were found in the search, police did find ammunition, according to the complaint.
Officers, meanwhile, said Duenas claimed ownership of the large bag on the front passenger seat floorboard.
“Defendant 2 emptied the bag in front of the police, upon which two syringes fell out. One of the syringes contained a clear liquid substance suspected to be methamphetamine, and defendant 2 confirmed that it contained methamphetamine, which she said is obtained through the diluting of crystal methamphetamine in water. Moreover, defendant 2 admitted (to) smoking marijuana before the traffic stop,” the complaint stated.
Authorities noted that Duenas is pregnant and allegedly told police that, despite trying, she “can’t quit meth” and to take her to the Department of Corrections as she was “wanted.”
Quidachay and Duenas were charged with conspiracy to possess a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with intent to deliver as first-degree felonies.
Quidachay was additionally charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as a third-degree felony and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
Quidachay was committed to DOC on $25,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 21.
Duenas was committed to DOC with cash bail set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing has been set for Monday.
The Guam Judicial Center is seen Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Hagåtña.
