DEA: CNMI is frontline in fight vs ‘ice’

The Drug Enforcement Administration considers the CNMI a frontline in the war against methamphetamine or “ice” that is coming from Asian markets, according to a visiting Honolulu-based Drug Enforcement Administration official yesterday.

Tony Williams, DEA assistant special agent in charge, said in an interview with the Saipan Tribune that they are going to be very aggressive in the CNMI in fighting the “ice” menace.

“[Our visit]…gives us an opportunity to engage in training with our counterparts in the Department of Public Safety. I have one of my training officers here from Honolulu who will be training our task force officers [and] members of the SWAT team,” said Williams.

The DEA official was at the gun certification training at the DPS Shooting Range in San Juan yesterday.

Williams, who was with Los Angeles-based Ralph Partridge, DEA acting special agent in charge, said their coming to Saipan is just one way of showing that the CNMI is important to the DEA’s overall program.

“Essentially, being out here, we’re just showing to all of the personnel that we are serious and we’re here to help,” he said.

Williams said they want to make sure that they obtain as much information about “ice” trafficking in the CNMI as possible so they can clearly assess the situation.

“The bottom line is that we have a commitment from DPS and from Customs. So everyone is on the same page. And we can have a positive impact to ensure that citizens here don’t have to be concerned about methamphetamine. We want to make sure we’re in a position to put a stop to that,” Williams said.

He said he is impressed with the shooting skills of the local agents.

“These guys have been in the task force for a while, they’re good guys, aggressive guys, I really like being around them. They’re doing it very well. Actually, they give me a round for my money,” said the DEA officer during the shooting certification of the agents.

Partridge said they want to check their teamwork with the local members of the task force.

DPS Commissioner Ernest Williams said they have a partnership with the local DEA agents and special agents from Guam, Hawaii, and Los Angeles.

He said the DEA officials are conducting gun firing training.

“While they are here, they are doing the qualification today and tomorrow we will have some of our police officers and Customs officers doing some qualifications…firing and some drills,” he said.

“It’s good to get our folks out here get some familiarization, interact with law enforcement agencies that we have worked with,” the commissioner added.