U.S. DEA Agent: "Ice" Biggest Drug Issue In Micronesia
(Saipan Tribune)
Methamphetamine hydrochloride or “ice” remains the leading drug threat in Micronesia, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, the Saipan Tribune reports.
DEA special agent Dan Holcolm said that over the past 10 years there has been a steady increase in “ice” trafficking throughout Micronesia-especially in the Northern Marianas and Guam.
“Predominantly most of the 'ice' that we've seen in this area, CNMI, is coming from mainland China,” said Holcolm during his presentation about regional drug trends at the 6th annual Micronesian Police Executives Association conference at the Saipan World Resort's Taga Hall.
However, he noted, Guam and some other areas throughout Micronesia have “ice” being smuggled from the U.S. mainland, the Philippines, Taiwan and Hawaii.
He said smugglers use every form of transportation including body courier, Federal Express, USPS, DHL, and sea-borne containers.
The ice supply, he said, are often directly tied to Southeast Asian organized crime.
He said most “ice” being seized in Micronesia is being produced in “superlabs” operating in Southeast Asia.
However, clandestine methamphetamine labs are also being seized in Micronesia, he added.
To date, the agent emphasized, no clandestine “ice” lab has been found in the CNMI.
In Guam, he said, there was one DEA clandestine lab seizure in 2006; five in 2007, and two in 2008.
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=82314
