SAIPAN — The mayors of Saipan, Tinian and Aguiguan, Rota and the Northern Islands have jointly asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to send additional personnel to the Commonwealth, telling the agency’s director that methamphetamine trafficking has grown beyond what local police can handle alone.
In a unified letter dated Aug. 10 to DEA Director Terrence C. Cole, Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho, Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Rota Mayor Aubry M. Hocog and Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Taisakan Jr. described the meth epidemic as “an urgent and escalating threat” to the health, safety and stability of their communities.
The mayors said methamphetamine trafficking and abuse have reached levels that local enforcement and community-support systems can no longer sustain alone, despite the efforts of local police, community organizations and government agencies. They said the scale and sophistication of distribution networks operating in the CNMI have outpaced available manpower and resources, pointing to rising addiction rates, increased property and violent crime, strained social services and the erosion of community well-being.
The letter requests the deployment of DEA agents, analysts and interdiction specialists to work directly with local law enforcement. The mayors asked the agency to strengthen intelligence gathering and investigative capacity, support joint operations targeting meth importation and distribution and enhance interdiction at ports of entry and along maritime routes. They also requested training and technical assistance for municipal and CNMI law enforcement and expanded community-based prevention and outreach initiatives in partnership with local leaders.
The mayors said increased DEA engagement would significantly bolster the Commonwealth’s ability to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable populations and restore safety and stability in the villages. They said they welcome the opportunity to discuss operational needs, timelines and coordination mechanisms.
The letter was copied to Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds.
