CNMI Customs & Biosecurity, which is under the Department of Finance, on Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle 4.04 pounds of methamphetamine hydrochloride at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa, resulting in the arrest of two individuals, Customs Director Jose C. Mafnas said.
In a press briefing Friday morning, he told reporters that three separate Ziploc bags containing meth were discovered inside three boxes of peanut brittle. They were shipped from California, and were intended to be delivered to a private post office on Saipan, Mafnas added.
A Customs officer discovered one of the Ziploc bags in the first box he inspected. When he checked further, he found similar contrabands in each of the two other boxes. A field test was conducted and the result indicated presumptive positive for methamphetamine.
Customs immediately sought assistance from the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Homeland Security, and this resulted in the arrest of a man, Chun Yang, 44, and a woman, Wang Yurong, 48, in an apartment near a bar in the Garapan tourist district.
Special Assistant for Customs Enforcement James C. Deleon Guerrero said the recent seizure of meth “is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Customs’ enforcement officers.”
He added, “Make no mistake, we have been provided with adequate enforcement resources.” He said it is a good day for the CNMI every time illegal drugs are prevented from going out to the community. It would have cost the CNMI a lot if those drugs were successfully sneaked into the community, he added.
Bio-Security Officer-in-Charge Lt. Raymond Cepeda said they are trying to do the best they can with the training they get to be more efficient and more effective in inspecting containers at seaports and airports as well as parcels at post offices.
Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig issued the following statement:
“The seizure by the Customs Biosecurity officers is commendable. Crystal meth is a very addictive illegal drug corroding our social fabric, and is destructive to families and individuals. Thus, [Customs’] diligent efforts at the ports of entry to keep our communities safe is vital to our island economy and the health of the people of the Commonwealth. I am proud of the officers involved in this particular seizure, and consequent arrests. Thank you Director Mafnas and his team and other law enforcement partners.”
Court hearing
Chun Yang and Wang Yurong appeared before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI for an initial hearing after they were arrested for attempting to smuggle 1,835.5 grams or 4.04 lbs. of methamphetamine by mail on June 21, 2022.
The defendants were each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a federally controlled substance.
At the hearing, Yang was represented by court-appointed attorney Steven Pixley, Yurong was represented by attorney Joe McDoulett, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government. Dennis Tse served as interpreter for the defendants.
After the hearing, both defendants were remanded to custody and ordered to return to court on July 8, at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.
Judge Kennedy noted that the prosecution had filed a motion for detention pending trial. She set a detention hearing for June 28, at 1:30 p.m.
According to the complaint against the two defendants, on June 21, 2022, CNMI Customs officers searched a parcel at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa and discovered suspected methamphetamine.
“Package #1 contained approximately 602.6 gross grams. Package #2 contained approximately 656.6 gross grams, and Package #3 contained approximately 576.3 gross grams. All three packages weighed approximately 1,835.5 gross grams or 4.04 lbs. of suspected methamphetamine,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said.
After conducting surveillance of the intended recipient of the parcel addressed to a private mailbox company, Chun Yang and Wang Yurong were arrested.
Customs seized methamphetamine in three Ziploc bags at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa on Tuesday.
From left, Customs Public Information Officer Capt. Reina Camacho, Customs Director Jose C Mafnas, Special Assistant for Customs Enforcement James C Deleon Guerrero and Bio-Security Officer-in-Charge Lt. Raymond C. Cepeda during a press briefing at the seaport on Friday morning.