DURING a routine inspection of a United Parcel Service package at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, Division of Customs and Biosecurity officers found 1.1 pounds of methamphetamine worth $155,000 inside a portable speaker.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Customs Director Jose Mafnas said, “We are trying our best to stop these drugs, methamphetamine, from entering our islands.”
He added, “While doing a routine inspection of the cargo, Customs officers came across a portable speaker in the package. The officer examined it and did an x-ray … and they found an anomaly in the speaker. [They] opened it … and discovered six packages wrapped in foil, crystal methamphetamine. A test was done and it showed presumptive positive.”
Mafnas said the total weight of the intercepted methamphetamine was 1.1 pounds with an estimated street value of $155,000.
He said an Asian individual who picked up the package was arrested on Monday.
The case is now pending in federal court, he added.
Mafnas said the package originated from Monterey, California and was addressed to the individual who picked up the package.
He said the operation was conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections and Customs.
Joining Mafnas at the press conference on Tuesday were DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, Secretary of Finance Tracy Norita, Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres and Customs Col. Jesse Atalig.
“We will not let our guard down, that’s for sure,” Mafnas said. “This is a money-making business for this person. We are speculating it’s coordinated from mainland China. As long as the demand is there these dealers will provide the supply. I don’t think it will stop. We [will continue to] mobilize [our] people where we think … illicit drugs or highly taxable goods can be smuggled in.”
For his part, Macaranas said, “This is one of the successes in the joint effort by the [Drug Enforcement Task Force]. I want people to know that we will continue to fight this … because these are the things that will destroy families, friends and the person himself or herself. This is a joint effort. We are concerned for the safety of the community. We don’t want these kinds of drugs coming into our islands.”
Norita said, “Despite the difficult fiscal challenge we face, we understand that law enforcement is a critical priority for our government operations … and we continue to support their needs, and in doing that we keep our community safe and get drugs off the street.”
According to Torres, “We are doing everything to disrupt the supply chain … and another thing I wanted to add is I want to reach all residents [and ask them] to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or behavior. If you see it report it. … That would help us.”
Charged
In federal court, Xuguang Li was charged with “Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) with the Intent to Distribute.”
Li appeared before Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI on Tuesday afternoon for an initial hearing.
According to court documents, Li stated that he had previously served five years at the CNMI Department of Corrections for illegal possession of methamphetamine.
“He knew the package he picked up at the UPS store contained methamphetamine; and that he expected to be paid $5,000 after delivering the methamphetamine,” court documents stated.
No other information about the defendant was available as of press time Tuesday evening.
Judge Kennedy scheduled a detention hearing for July 12, and a preliminary hearing examination for July 23.
Attorney Bruce Berline was appointed to represent Li while U.S. Assistant Attorney Garth Backe appeared for the federal government.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, Finance Secretary Tracy Norita, Customs Director Jose Mafnas, Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres and Customs Col. Jesse Atalig conduct a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Six packages of methamphetamine were found inside a portable speaker in a package sent from Monterey, California.
