‘Heightened inter-agency work needed’

The Commonwealth Casino Commission aims to emulate other countries that have strong inter-agency cooperation to help them regulate the gaming industry on Saipan. Enforcement agencies in countries like Australia, Macau, Singapore, and others that have casinos maintain a close collaboration.

“We want to focus more on inter-agency cooperation. There are some jurisdictions in other countries that have an existing government structure. They actually participate in casino regulatory process, whether you are in Singapore, Macau, or Australia,” said CCC executive director Edward C. Deleon Guerrero. “There are other agencies that are involved in the vetting process, whether it is a tax issue or a [Financial Crimes Enforcement Network] issue. There are other agencies that work with the regulators to assure that the country’s casino-related laws are being implemented.”

Locally, Deleon Guerrero said they would be working with enforcement agencies like the Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the Department of Commerce’s Alcohol Beverage & Tobacco Control, and the Department of Finance’s Customs and Revenue and Taxation divisions in enforcing CNMI and federal laws.

“We are hoping that, as we go through, we can have more training and better integration and cooperation with the other law enforcement agencies,” said Deleon Guerrero, who pointed out that the Macau police have a special intelligence unit that also participates in the vetting process of junket operator applicants.

“We don’t have that amenity here. We have to contact outside forces to assist us in looking at Asia but we’re working on it to have a similar agency here. We wanted to work together since the resources here will be at our disposal. We work in the same government, and operate under the same laws and regulations,” Deleon Guerrero said.

He said they have a 24-7 presence in the casino, being the regulating agency. “We’re present there as a government regulatory agency. We also review every government requirement needed like food handler certificates, and CNMI business and ABTC licenses. Any regulatory agency whose license is required, we will work with them in terms of enforcement.”

In a separate interview, DPS Commissioner Robert Guerrero said that they have additional personnel that they could assign to be part of the casino commission’s inter-agency unit. “DPS personnel are assigned based on the need. Like, if there’s the need to assign more in the drug task force, we’ll do that.”

“As far as [CCC is concerned] they have not communicated yet with us. Keep in mind that task forces are composed of various government agencies,” Guerrero said.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, meanwhile, said his administration expects to adhere to all local and federal laws, reacting a week after the Bloomberg story came out saying the U.S. Department of the Treasury is looking into Imperial Pacific International’s casino operations on Saipan.

“In the case of our casino licensee, we are fortunate that the casino regulator has adopted and implemented detailed and stringent regulations to guard against potential violations. We will do our part, working alongside our federal and private sector partners, to uphold the law and protect our citizens,” Torres said in a statement sent to the Saipan Tribune.