{"id":413959,"date":"2024-09-13T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=413959"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Guam-resident-arrested-for-drug-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Guam-resident-arrested-for-drug-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"Guam resident arrested for drug trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Customs airport search revealed 1.3 lbs of meth in the carry-on bag of a 48-year-old woman arriving from Guam.<\/p>\n

The Department of Public Safety said Millie Reyes Mantanona was arrested on Aug. 30, 2024 and charged with trafficking and possession of a controlled substance. After a search warrant was issued, police found another 2 lbs of meth at her Garapan residence the following day, bringing the total seized amount to just over 3 lbs, which has an estimated street value of $281,400.<\/p>\n

Mantanona has been charged for trafficking and possession of a controlled substance and is currently detained by the Department of Corrections on a $100,000 bail.<\/p>\n

Leading members from the Drug Enforcement Task Force on Saipan met with the media yesterday afternoon at the DPS headquarters in Susupe to shed more light on Mantanona\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n

DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas said Mantanona is a resident of Mongmong, Guam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Miss Mantanona arrived on Saipan, a controlled operation led to the arrest of Miss Mantanona. Her first initial contact was 1.3 lbs of meth. Secondly, the task force got an arrest warrant on Aug. 31 from Associate Judge Joseph Camacho and did a search warrant at her apartment where they found the additional 2 lbs of meth.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shared that the drug bust was conducted through to the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Task Force on Saipan, which includes DPS, DOC, Division of Customs and Biosecurity, and Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control.<\/p>\n

According to DPS, officers had been monitoring Mantanona and were acting on information that led them to suspect she was smuggling illegal drugs into Saipan.<\/p>\n

Macaranas said the case is still under investigation and currently there are no further details about Mantanona\u2019s network or potential connections to larger drug operations.<\/p>\n

He added that they will be working with the Guam Police Department to find out more about Mantanona and whether or not she has a criminal history.<\/p>\n

For now, Mantanona remains in custody with her next court date yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree lbs of meth is a lot,\u201d said Macaranas. \u201cNow that with collaborate efforts again with the group here, just a few months ago they did intercept it through the postal, through the courier that we have here, and it\u2019s the exact same amount, 3 lbs. So again, this is telling us that there is still a constant issue with methamphetamine here in the CNMI.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if drug smugglers are becoming more brazen, Customs & Biosecurity director Jose C. Mafnas said, \u201cFor Customs, that\u2019s the biggest challenge for us, you know, to be looking at passengers. Who among 100 passengers is carrying [drugs], you know, it\u2019s a big challenge. So, this is, I guess one of those lucky shots that the officers encountered.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Asked whether or not he plans to do frequent searches at the airport, or bring in more canines because of the Mantanona incident, Mafnas said they\u2019ll see what happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do have canines and that\u2019s one of the plans. In fact, we were just talking about our canine program. So those are part of our tools that we use at the ports of entry. Any tools, increase of officers, you know, we\u2019re chasing this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the illegal drug trade is a true game of cat and mouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe busted the post office based on our investigation. They said it\u2019s coming to the post office. We shifted more of our officers there. Then they moved to another area. We pushed officers there. We\u2019ll do everything to ensure that we stop it at the ports… You heard about fentanyl and its presence in Guam. We want to make sure that thing doesn\u2019t reach us.\u201d<\/p>\n

DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres said whenever the task force apprehends illegal drug smugglers it\u2019s always a concerted effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe task force has been delivering since we decided to combine and get together and renew this partnership. We all have great relationships here. We\u2019re going to continue to collaborate. We\u2019re going to continue to fight this. I do ask the community that if you see something, say something, report it, please. This substantial amount of drugs is taken off the streets that could negatively impact lives, families out in our community, so this is a huge win. But we\u2019re going to continue to fight this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Macaranas also praised the work of the task force.<\/p>\n

\u201cI continue to encourage people that see or if they hear anything that\u2019s drug-related to contact the Department of Public Safety or if you are unable to call DPS, we have the Department of Corrections that can accept the calls along with the Customs & Biosecurity and that includes the Department of Commerce.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Guam resident Millie Reyes Mantanona takes her police mug shot.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas shares details regarding the arrest of a Guam resident caught with possession of 3 lbs of meth during a media conference yesterday at the DPS headquarters in Susupe.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

From left, Department of Commerce Secretary Remedio Mafnas, Alcoholic Beverage & Tobacco Control Director David Maratita, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, and Customs & Biosecurity Director Jose Mafnas takes questions from the media yesterday at the DPS headquarters in Susupe.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

The TruNarc analyzer shows a positive result next to one of the bags of meth seized from Millie Reyes Mantanona.<\/p>\n

-DPS
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

DPS weighs bags of meth seized from Millie Reyes Mantanona.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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