The governor said he was satisfied with the quick action of DOJ regarding his complaint that 147 Chinese nationals, including dignitaries from Shanghai, were subjected to body search in a “most deeply intrusive nature.”
According to the Chinese tourists, they were subjected to body search on Oct. 4 at the Saipan International Airport minutes after the inaugural flight of the Shanghai-Saipan charter flight landed here.
The DEA was apparently acting on a tip that some passengers might be carrying illegal drugs. None was found though.
Fitial wrote to DEA acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, who assigned the matter to DEA Special Agent In-Charge Timothy Landrum.
Landrum is based in Los Angeles which has jurisdiction over the CNMI.
He told Fitial: “I have been briefed by my management team regarding the alleged incident and related investigation. I have directed that a complete and full review/inquiry be conducted. I ask for your assistance in helping us complete this review and resolve this matter.”
Fitial said Landrum visited Saipan in the past and is familiar with the CNMI.
In his e-mail to Fitial shared to the media, Landrum emphasized the need for the DEA and the local law enforcement authority to work together.
The CNMI receives federal grants every year to train its law enforcement personnel on how to address the community’s drug problems, among other areas of expertise.
Fitial, however, temporarily pulled out four police officers assigned to the CNMI-DEA Task Force following the pat-down incident.
Landrum said he’s confident though that the partnership will continue once the facts are revealed.
“Partnerships are a priority of mine and appreciate all the support your departments provide. I am confident that all the facts will be revealed and that this will only strengthen our work together. Resident Agent in Charge Tony Marquez, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tony Williams and I are available to discuss this further,” he said.
Landrum, a highly respected anti-narcotics agent, recently arrested members of the Rolling 30s Harlem Crips street gang.
According to the DEA Web site, law enforcers seized cocaine and crack cocaine, 495 tablets of 80mg oxycodone, 26 firearms, more than 800 rounds of ammunition and approximately $27,500 in narcotics over the time that the gang members were investigated.
A case is currently pending in the court against the gang’s members.
The Legislature adopted a joint resolution asking the Justice Department for a probe and an apology from the DEA over what it described as a “highly unusual” body search.
Yang Lianchun, China’s consul in Los Angeles, recently wrote to the Marianas Visitors Authority inquiring about the Shanghai inaugural flight incident.
In his letter, the envoy expressed concern that the Chinese tourists were singled out because of their race.
“The Consul General in Los Angeles is worried about the unequal treatment which the Chinese nationals got in your district and hopes the routine administration of government does not influence the normal exchanges between the two countries and ensure the equal treatment to Chinese nationals there in an appropriate manner in the future,” he said.
The Legislature said federal authorities should make it clear that it was a DEA-initiated search and was not conducted by local customs or immigration officials.
“The Legislature demands a full disclosure of the details that lead up to the incident and calls for the U.S. DEA to disclose details and to apologize to those affected and their government formally, for their transgressions,” the resolution stated.
The CNMI is the only U.S. jurisdiction separately granted an approved destination status by China.
