11 more persons caught in illegal taxi operations

Eleven more persons were arrested in the second phase of a crackdown on illegal taxis on Saipan spearheaded by the Department of Public Safety.

“These individuals have no respect for the laws of the Commonwealth,” said DPS Commissioner Claudio K. Norita during a news briefing yesterday.

Norita said that as far as he is concerned, there will be zero tolerance for these individuals.

“[If] they’re here to do business, then we welcome them to come in and do business. We welcome them to go and get their permits and license, pay the taxes and do business legitimately,” he said.

The commissioner said that if these people don’t want to play by the rules and laws of the CNMI, then the government and the enforcement agencies will take them down.

Norita said that three of the four arrested were also found to be overstaying aliens.

The arrested operators were Taiguo Qian, 31; Songgen Gao, 29; Guang Xu Piao, 31; and Zi Qiang Jing, 44.

Qian, one of the operators, was also arrested for illegal employment after allegedly admitting that the company he worked for closed down in January 2008 and that he was operating his own illegal taxi.

Gao, Piao, and Jing allegedly admitted driving illegal taxis and were overstaying.

Two of the passengers—Zheng Gang Liu, 31, and Cheng Liang Li, 41—were arrested for overstaying.

The other passengers were released after being screened by the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit personnel.

Norita said that four cars were also impounded, bringing to 14 the number of cars seized in the two operations that began Saturday night.

Throughout the operation, no serious incident occurred, according to Sgt. Sylvan M. Rangamar in his report.

Detective Jeff F. Olopai showed to the media some of the calling cards containing discount promotions for passengers who avail of the illegal taxi services.

Rangamar said that under the second phase of Strike Force Echo operation, law enforcers from the DPS Criminal Investigation Division, Labor Enforcement Section, and AGIU/Immigration conducted a sting operation in identifying illegal taxis within the western Garapan district on Tuesday at 4pm.

Rangamar said that Strike Force Echo went into full force at 8pm, with assistance from the Patrol and Traffic officers.

Six taxis were stopped, but only four were impounded after they were found to be illegal.

Last Saturday night, 12 persons were arrested—nine for operating taxicabs, one woman for prostitution, and two men for overstaying. Ten vehicles used in the illegal taxi operation were also impounded.