Arraignment set for man accused of smuggling $1.8 million worth of meth through USPS

The District Court for the NMI has set an arraignment for a man accused of trying to smuggle $1.8 million worth of methamphetamine into the CNMI through the United States Postal Service.

The District Court for the NMI is set to arraign Yang Liang, a man accused of trying to smuggle $1.8 million worth of methamphetamine into the CNMI through the United States Postal Service, this Wednesday.

According to the complaint against Yang, Customs officer Shota Castro was inspecting a parcel addressed to P.O. Box 10003 9 PMB 481-B on Sept. 23, 2023, during a routine inspection of mail at the Chalan Kanoa post office and identified four boxes containing silver lava lamps inside the parcel. He noticed that one of the lava lamps appeared to be tampered with and there was a dry crystal-like substance on the lamp.

Castro then conducted a field test of the substance, which yielded a positive result for methamphetamine. The parcel and contents were then turned over to the Saipan Customs Contraband Enforcement Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Following the discovery, DEA special agent Kirk F. Johns stated that a U.S. postal inspector applied for a warrant with the U.S. District Court for the installation of a tracking device inside the parcel, which the court granted.

John said that, prior to the discovery, Yang visited a mail service shop and inquired about a parcel. Yang allegedly provided a tracking number and cell number for the mail service to call when the parcel arrived.

In addition, Yang inquired about a parcel that was not addressed to him.

On Sept. 27, an unidentified male referred to as “AA” entered the mail service shop and asked to check post box 481-B. AA allegedly didn’t have the key to the box so Yang came and provided it to him. AA received the two boxes that were had been discovered to contain “ice.”

As AA began to open the target parcel with scissors, Yang rushed out of the mail service shop, followed closely by federal agents.

Later, AA took the two parcels to Yang and when Yang picked up the box and placed it in his car, both men were detained by authorities.

Through an interpreter, Yang told investigators he was expecting a bow and arrow from his friend on Guam.

Yang said his friend Batu, who was in Guam, informed him on Sept. 23, 2023, that he should expect packages with a phone, cup, crossbow, lantern, and passport. Yang stated that Batu provided him with tracking numbers for these packages.

Yang said Batu told him how to receive the packages and instructed him to deliver the package with lanterns based on follow-up instructions.

Yang told officers that he was tricked into receiving the parcels, not knowing they contained drugs. However, investigators noted they had not informed Yang that methamphetamine was discovered inside either package.

Yang remains under Department of Corrections custody pending further court proceedings.