Guam resident arrested for drug trafficking

A Customs airport search revealed 1.3 lbs of meth in the carry-on bag of a 48-year-old woman arriving from Guam.

The Department of Public Safety said Millie Reyes Mantanona was arrested on Aug. 30, 2024 and charged with trafficking and possession of a controlled substance. After a search warrant was issued, police found another 2 lbs of meth at her Garapan residence the following day, bringing the total seized amount to just over 3 lbs, which has an estimated street value of $281,400.

Mantanona has been charged for trafficking and possession of a controlled substance and is currently detained by the Department of Corrections on a $100,000 bail.

Leading members from the Drug Enforcement Task Force on Saipan met with the media yesterday afternoon at the DPS headquarters in Susupe to shed more light on Mantanona’s arrest.

DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas said Mantanona is a resident of Mongmong, Guam.

“When Miss Mantanona arrived on Saipan, a controlled operation led to the arrest of Miss Mantanona. Her first initial contact was 1.3 lbs of meth. Secondly, the task force got an arrest warrant on Aug. 31 from Associate Judge Joseph Camacho and did a search warrant at her apartment where they found the additional 2 lbs of meth.”

He shared that the drug bust was conducted through to the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Task Force on Saipan, which includes DPS, DOC, Division of Customs and Biosecurity, and Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control.

According to DPS, officers had been monitoring Mantanona and were acting on information that led them to suspect she was smuggling illegal drugs into Saipan.

Macaranas said the case is still under investigation and currently there are no further details about Mantanona’s network or potential connections to larger drug operations.

He added that they will be working with the Guam Police Department to find out more about Mantanona and whether or not she has a criminal history.

For now, Mantanona remains in custody with her next court date yet to be announced.

“Three lbs of meth is a lot,” said Macaranas. “Now that with collaborate efforts again with the group here, just a few months ago they did intercept it through the postal, through the courier that we have here, and it’s the exact same amount, 3 lbs. So again, this is telling us that there is still a constant issue with methamphetamine here in the CNMI.”

Asked if drug smugglers are becoming more brazen, Customs & Biosecurity director Jose C. Mafnas said, “For Customs, that’s the biggest challenge for us, you know, to be looking at passengers. Who among 100 passengers is carrying [drugs], you know, it’s a big challenge. So, this is, I guess one of those lucky shots that the officers encountered.” he said.

Asked whether or not he plans to do frequent searches at the airport, or bring in more canines because of the Mantanona incident, Mafnas said they’ll see what happens.

“We do have canines and that’s one of the plans. In fact, we were just talking about our canine program. So those are part of our tools that we use at the ports of entry. Any tools, increase of officers, you know, we’re chasing this.”

He said the illegal drug trade is a true game of cat and mouse.

“We busted the post office based on our investigation. They said it’s coming to the post office. We shifted more of our officers there. Then they moved to another area. We pushed officers there. We’ll do everything to ensure that we stop it at the ports… You heard about fentanyl and its presence in Guam. We want to make sure that thing doesn’t reach us.”

DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres said whenever the task force apprehends illegal drug smugglers it’s always a concerted effort.

“The task force has been delivering since we decided to combine and get together and renew this partnership. We all have great relationships here. We’re going to continue to collaborate. We’re going to continue to fight this. I do ask the community that if you see something, say something, report it, please. This substantial amount of drugs is taken off the streets that could negatively impact lives, families out in our community, so this is a huge win. But we’re going to continue to fight this.”

Macaranas also praised the work of the task force.

“I continue to encourage people that see or if they hear anything that’s drug-related to contact the Department of Public Safety or if you are unable to call DPS, we have the Department of Corrections that can accept the calls along with the Customs & Biosecurity and that includes the Department of Commerce.”