Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan) is proposing a bill to allow the government to forfeit the assets of individuals convicted of supplying or distributing illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine or \u201cice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Igisomar said Senate Bill 19-33 seeks to introduce stricter deterrents against those wanting to sell and distribute \u201cice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only need to look at the number of burglaries to see that \u2018ice\u2019 is becoming a big problem in the CNMI,\u201d Igisomar said.<\/p>\n
The bill proposes to forfeit \u201cassets, moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, or other things of value.\u201d<\/p>\n
The forfeited funds will be deposited in a Department of Corrections revolving account to be expended at the discretion of the attorney general and the Department of Public Safety commissioner.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a bill sought to allocate $300,000 to the DPS and the Department of Finance to supplement the drug enforcement efforts of the two agencies.<\/p>\n
House Bill 19-48, introduced by Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), proposes that the additional funds come from the Commonwealth Alien Deportation Fund, created under Public Law 10-01.<\/p>\n
H.B. 19-48 was recently introduced during a House session on Rota last week.<\/p>\n
Propst earlier said the use of crystal methamphetamine or \u201cice\u201d continues to be a growing problem in the CNMI, reaching \u201cepidemic proportions within our villages and borders.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Propst\u2019s proposed bill, $200,000 will be allocated to the Special Operations Section (narcotics unit) of the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation, a sub-agency under the DPS.<\/p>\n
The proposed fund is expected to be used for intelligence operations such as confidential informant services, evidence, and information, as well as technical equipment, including field drug identification kits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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