Ex-convict, girlfriend allegedly conspired to sell ‘ice’

Members of the CNMI Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested on Monday an ex-convict and his girlfriend for alleged conspiracy to sell methamphetamine or “ice” on Saipan.

Denmar E. Malabanan, 28, was arrested for two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance, two counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance, one count of trafficking of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone, and one count of conspiracy to trafficking.

Malabanan was arrested on Monday, but was then temporarily released after he agreed to cooperate with authorities. Lawmen, however, re-arrested him Tuesday for allegedly not cooperating with them.

Emma Victoria A. Iriarte, 25, was arrested for one count each for illegal possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to trafficking of a controlled substance.

At a hearing Tuesday, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio imposed a $100,000 cash bail each on Malabanan and Iriarte.

Assistant public defender Tillman Clark was appointed as counsel for Malabanan. The court appointed Vincent J. Seman as counsel for Iriarte. Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.

Preliminary hearing will be on Nov. 3 at 9am.

Task force investigator Roque K. Camacho stated in his report that he along with other members of the task force and Drug Enforcement Administration, met a cooperating source last Sept. 8 to prepare a “buy-walk” operation to purchase $40 worth of “ice” from Malabanan.

Camacho said Malabanan instead sent his girlfriend, Iriarte, who handed a baggie of “ice” to the cooperating source.

Camacho said the cooperating source did not believe that the “ice” was worth $40, prompting Iriarte to bring the cooperating source to Malabanan’s house in Chalan Kanoa.

Malabanan, through the window of his house, allegedly handed two baggies of “ice” to the cooperating source.

Camacho said the seized 0.7 gross grams tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Camacho said their cooperating source managed to buy $40 more of “ice” from Malabanan outside the cooperating source’s house in Chalan Kanoa last Sept. 20.

Camacho said the seized 0.4 gross grams of substance tested presumptive positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Task force agents subsequently searched Malabanan’s house. The report did not mention if drugs were seized from his house.