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DPS steps up campaign to curb illegal drugs
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Posted on Aug 16 1999
With the recent report of increase in sale of ‘ice’ on the island, Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram has ordered his men to be more vigilant in monitoring the illegal drug activity.
“We are constantly on alert in gathering intelligence report to stop this kind of activity which is a menace to society,” said Ingram.
While admitting that it would be difficult to totally eliminate the sale of illegal drugs, Ingram said authorities can reduce the problem by making sure that it is no longer economically feasible to acquire these substance.
At the same time, the DPS chief said he is opposing moves by some groups to legalize the use of marijuana on the island because in fear it would only contribute to the breakdown of family system here.
Earlier, Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez has warned the community that the sale of methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‘ice’ is on the rise again.
Although there is no available data yet from the Department of Public Health to prove the growing addiction to ‘ice,’ Villagomez said he was approached by former patients who want to seek medical treatment again.
The health chief also cited the growing incidents of violence such as wife beating and criminal activities, which rise in 1992 to 1995 were blamed on rampant use of drugs.
Some of the worst possible crimes on the island have been traced to drugs. In 1997, a mother of four was killed by a former prosecutor believed under the influence of ‘ice’. The man is now languishing in jail serving a life sentence.
In 1995 amid the spread of ‘ice’, there were 10 murders committed in the Northern Marianas.
Villagomez met with the staff of the Division of Mental Health and Services to revive its campaign against drug addiction. “We need to warn the community once again that ‘ice’ is slowly creeping in the community. We will intensify our preventive program and education campaign because this will destroy the future of the CNMI,” he added.
The department has asked the Division of Customs and DPS to be on alert for possible entry of the illegal drugs into the Commonwealth.
In 1997 local and federal authorities in the Northern Marianas seized some $1.8-million worth of drugs, bulk of which was heroin.
