10 lbs of liquid meth intercepted at US Post Office

The Division of Customs and Biosecurity, with the help of local and federal partners, intercepted 10 lbs of methamphetamine or “ice” that two Chinese nationals allegedly tried to smuggle into the CNMI through the United States Post Office.

Yesterday, Customs and Biosecurity director Jose Mafnas held a press conference at their office in Lower Base to share a recent triumph in the CNMI’s battle against “ice”—the interception of 10 lbs of meth that was smuggled into the island through the U.S. Post Office in the form of eight glitter lava lamps.

According to Mafnas, on Sept. 23, during a Customs routine inspection at the post office, a Customs officer became suspicious of one of the boxes up for inspection. Then, after further examination of the box, they noticed a questionable liquid inside the lava lamps and got concerned. The substance was later tested positive for methamphetamine.

“This is the first time, in my years, to witness the interception of a methamphetamine in liquid form,” said Mafnas.

The Customs director stated that of the eight lava lamps intercepted, four arrived on island on Sept. 23, and the other four came in yesterday morning. Mafnas noted that both packages of lava lamps were sent to the same postal address and was picked up by two Chinese nationals who have since been arrested.

“Two Chinese nationals were arrested and they are currently being held at the Department of Corrections,” he said.

Mafnas also shared that the converted weight of the liquid found in the lava lamps was equivalent about 4,535 grams or about 10 lbs.

Given the street value of one gram of meth in the CNMI is $400, Customs says the estimated value of the drugs found in the lamps is about $1.8 million.

Prior to the lava lamps, Mafnas said Customs intercepted over 2 lbs of methamphetamine at the U.S. Post Office.

According to Mafnas, in September alone, Customs intercepted over $2-million worth of methamphetamine.

Mafnas said the reason Customs is so successful in intercepting drugs at the boarders is because of the great relationship they have with their partners.

“I am very happy that we were able to intercept this because otherwise, it would have gone out into the community and it would have destroyed families, increase the number of drug-related crimes, and so forth. We were able to stop it but it would not have been possible without the help of our local and federal partners,” he said.

Attending the press conference was Department of Correction Commissioner Anthony Torres, U.S. Homeland Security special agent John Duenas, and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Clement Bermudes.

Torres and Duenas, for their part, congratulated Customs for their success in intercepting these drugs stating that if they had not been so diligent and the drugs had entered the CNMI, it would have caused a ripple effect.

“It would be in our streets, in our prisons, and our children could be exposed to it,” they stated.