Fitial said the drug-bust is a separate issue and stressed that the local police are equally capable as their federal counterparts in curbing illegal drug activities in the CNMI.
“This is another issue. This is not an immigration issue. The visa waiver program is an economic issue not a political issue,” he told reporters during his weekly press briefing.
“I will continue to fight for the visa waiver program. Without Russia and China, our economy will be adversely affected,” he added.
The interim final regulation governing the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program excluded Chinese and Russian tourists from the list of countries whose citizens can enter the territories visa-free for 45 days.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Biao Huang, Sheng Lian and Chun Mei Lin with several counts of ice possession with intent to distribute.
Fitial said the local police have remained vigilant and capable in addressing drug problems in the CNMI.
“They are more vigilant now than when they were working with feds,” he added.
Last year, he suspended the CNMI government’s joint anti-drug task force with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration after DEA agents conducted a body-search on more than 140 Chinese tourists who arrived here aboard the inaugural flight of Shanghai Airlines.
The DEA found no illegal drugs and the Chinese tourists said they felt violated and harassed.
