HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — An autopsy conducted on a Department of Corrections detainee who died in May found fentanyl in his system.
On Tuesday, DOC leaders appeared before the 37th Guam Legislature to propose their budget for the next fiscal year. In the hearing, acting warden Maj. Maryhelen Lizama shared a message to the public that the deadly drug fentanyl is on the island and has made its way into the prisons.
“My advice to the public, be careful out there. We do have fentanyl here in Guam, and it did come into our facility. Unfortunately, … they lace other drugs such as (methamphetamine) with fentanyl. And that drug, fentanyl, is 100 times more potent than morphine,” Lizama said.
“All those people out there, they better be careful when they’re smoking drugs. It doesn’t matter. Cigarettes, marijuana, methamphetamines, amphetamines (and) cocaine, guess what? They’re lacing that with fentanyl,” added Lizama.
Following the statements, The Guam Daily Post inquired with DOC Director Fred Bordallo to get more details regarding fentanyl at DOC. Bordallo said Lizama’s statements were regarding a detainee who died at DOC on May 17.
Bordallo further stated that the autopsy results of the detainee, a 26-year-old man, showed there was methamphetamine, amphetamine and fentanyl in his system.
According to Post files, the detainee was discovered by security personnel on May 17, appearing to be unconscious and in need of CPR. Medical assistance was subsequently provided, and the man was transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam with CPR conducted en route, but the detainee was pronounced dead around 11:45 p.m. on May 17.
The Guam Police Department was confirmed to have been investigating the death, and DOC also was conducting an internal investigation.
Concerning the investigations, Bordallo told the Post this week that there was no other information that could be shared.
“There is no other specific information of ongoing investigations from GPD shared with us that provides the manner on how the detainee obtained and used the drugs indicated within the autopsy report,” Bordallo said.
There are, however, ongoing investigations into the promotion of contraband, Bordallo said, which could “lead to the extent of either illegal drug use or trafficking of illegal drugs among inmates incarcerated at our facilities.”
Last week, records unsealed in the District Court of Guam showed two inmates, Richard Nic Pama Espedion and John Boy Trae Duenas, were charged with distributing methamphetamine at DOC after a large discovery of contraband was found in their cells in March.
Lizama’s statements reflect what may already have been known. Post files show that in 2022, 79.4 grams of suspected fentanyl was seized by the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. It was believed to have been sent to Guam from Hawaii.
Then, in February 2023, GPD Chief Stephen Ignacio told the Legislature during a public hearing that there had been two confirmed cases of fentanyl overdose, however, they were not fatal.
Because fentanyl has made its way to Guam, Public Law 10-37, or The Guam Opioid Overdose Prevention Act of 2023, was enacted so law enforcement and first responders have the tools to prevent overdoses of drugs such as fentanyl.
Bill 239-37 also has been introduced and, if passed, would enhance sentences for defendants found to be involved in the trafficking or manufacturing of fentanyl, as well as methamphetamine. The measure would impose a mandatory minimum sentences of 25 years to 40 years for those found guilty of possessing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, depending on the drug quantity and whether the individual is a repeat offender.
A Department of Corrections Mangilao Adult Correctional Facility guard tower is seen on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
