Over $30K worth of ‘ice’ found on man arrested

The CNMI Department of Corrections intercepted 111 grams of crystal methamphetamine from entering DOC, after finding the drugs on an arrestee during a protocol search last Thursday.

DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres held a press conference to brief the community about the discovery last Friday at DOC in Susupe. Joining Torres for the meeting were Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas and CNMI Customs and Border Patrol’s Col. Jesse Atalig.

During the presscon, Torres shared that the bags containing the ice were revealed inside the Pelican case of James B. Camacho, a case he had been carrying at the time. The crystallized rocks were already measured into several Ziploc baggies, and along with the drugs, officers found a scale and pipe as well as a bundle of cash. The “ice” itself amounted up to approximately 111 grams, with an estimated street value of $34,000. Torres said that it is still under investigation whether or not Camacho was selling at the time of the arrest, but the amount he had on him, can cause speculation that he was.

Torres said that Camacho had been arrested after a bench warrant was put out for him failing to appear in drug court. Upon his apprehension Camacho had been asked by officers to search his property to which he declined. It was only when Camacho was arrested and brought to DOC, that the protocol search went about and the drugs discovered.

This significant seizure occurred Thursday night in the DOC booking area, marking the second drug bust just last week, and investigation on the matter continues.

The media asked Macaranas his thoughts and if the numbers of drugs found in the CNMI had gotten higher. Macaranas said that there are drugs busted at the border, but “sometimes these things slip through the cracks, which is sometimes beyond our control, and it’s out of the street, and that’s another way we started to find them out. But that does not stop us from doing our part, because eventually it’s going to come back again, and we’ll continue to stop it.”

Macaranas, Atalig, and Torres commended the CNMI Customs and Border Patrol, as well as officers at DPS and DOC and all civil servants and community members fighting against the entrance of these drugs to the island; but they each shared that the work isn’t complete and there was still a need for more vigilance.

“My officers right now are very vigilant, especially when it comes to this kind of drugs, and that’s why we’re actively having this K-9 trainings,” said Macaranas while also crediting the drugs busted so far due to the efforts of law enforcement officers.

“We appreciate CNMI Customs and Biosecurity for providing some of those valuable trainings that we have for our canine officers, because at the end of the day, this is the result of all the trainings and all the canines that were given. This is the end result.”

Torres encouraged the community to remain vigilant and if they see something, say something.

“Drug intervention is a top priority for this team. We are actively working to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs that plague our streets and our community. The harm caused by illegal drugs cannot be understated, and we are determined to work together tirelessly to disrupt these networks and protect our people. We will continue to work collaboratively and use every resource at our disposal to ensure the safety and well-being of our community,” said Torres