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Hazmat unit looks into substance in shipment
Wearing protective suits, members of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services hazmat unit get ready to investigate an unknown liquid substance found in 2-liter bottles that were seized from a shipment from China. The samples that were taken will be sent to an off-island laboratory for further testing. (Derek Gersonde)
CNMI Customs Service sought the assistance of a hazmat unit (hazardous materials) from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services on Wednesday morning to investigate an unknown liquid substance seized from a shipment from China.
DFEMS spokesman Derek Gersonde said the hazmat unit responded to the Saipan Seaport in Lower Base, at Customs’ request, to investigate the unknown substance.
Gersonde said that Customs personnel found 2-liter bottles filled with the unknown liquid in the shipment.
Six DFEMS personnel completed the operation that began in the morning and lasted until afternoon.
Gersonde did not provide information as to who owns the shipment.
Customs has yet to release information on how they were able to intercept the substance.
Samples taken by the hazmat unit will be sent to an off-island laboratory for further testing.
“The remaining content is safely stored within CNMI Customs secure storage room,” he said, adding that further information will be released when available.
