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3 men fall in ‘ice’ bust
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Posted on Mar 20 2009
Police arrested on Thursday three men who were allegedly engaged in selling crystal methamphetamine or “ice” on Saipan.
Eddie M. Fleming, 51; Benedicto R. Lizama, 57; and Juan Diego C. Matagolai, 29, were apprehended for trafficking of a controlled substance and illegal possession of a controlled substance.
The three were brought to the Superior Court yesterday afternoon for a bail hearing.
Associate Judge Perry B. Inos imposed a $3,000 cash bail plus $27,000 unsecured bond each for the temporary release of Fleming and Matagolai. Inos imposed a $1,000 cash bail plus $20,000 unsecured bond for the temporary liberty of Lizama.
The judge set the preliminary hearing in all cases for March 27 at 9am.
Assistant attorney general William Downer represented the government at the hearing.
Police Officer Norman S. Rasiang stated in his report that an undercover police officer and a “cooperating source” managed to purchase $200 worth of “ice” from Fleming on Feb. 12.
Rasiang said the operation was conducted by members of the DPS Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the DPS Criminal Investigation Division.
Detective Steven A. Castro stated in his report that the same teams of officers used a “cooperating source” to purchase $200 worth of “ice” from Lizama on Feb. 19.
Castro said the meeting place between the “cooperating source” and Lizama was at a poker arcade in Kagman, but the defendant handed over the “ice” in San Vicente.
With respect to Matagolai, Police Officer Raymond Camacho stated in his report that an undercover police officer and a “cooperating source” were able to buy $200 worth of “ice” from Matagolai on Jan. 22.
Officer Camacho said the “ice” deal was done inside a poker establishment in Dandan.
Camacho said the target in that operation was another person, but it was Matagolai who showed up and handed over the “ice.”
The other suspect was not arrested yet.
Detectives served the arrest warrant on Fleming, Lizama, and Matagolai on Thursday.
