REGIONAL POLICE OFFICIALS MEET

In the past two years, police officials in the Federated States of
Micronesia have found two headless bodies washed up on their shores.

"We believe the bodies may be connected to drug trafficking," said Pius
Chotailug, director of the FSM Division of National Police, adding that
shortly after the bodies were found, drugs packed in boxes were found
washed up on the shores. The second box last year was found by a group of
children who opened the boxes and played with their contents, not knowing
what they were.

Drug trafficking is just one of the issues that the FSM National Police,
along with police officials from the Republic of Palau and the Commonwealth
of Northern Mariana Islands, are discussing during the three-day Regional
Chiefs of Police Executive Summit at the LeoPalace Resort in Manenggon Hills.

Gov. Felix P. Camacho, in a keynote address, said yesterday a regional
approach to public safety will combat crime.

"A clear focus on strengthening our infrastructure against terrorism,
international drug trafficking and other global problems that adversely
affect our region will go a long way in creating a safer, more secure
quality of life for all of Micronesia."

Hazime Telei, Palau's director of Bureau of Public Safety, said he's
grateful to Guam police Chief Frank Ishizaki for taking the role in leading
the summit.

"We are different countries, different shapes, different sizes, but we all
face the same problems in terms of crime," Telei said.

Two areas of particular concern to Telei are the alcohol-related traffic
accidents in Palau and illegal drugs, which are routed through Palau to
Guam and the CNMI.

"In terms of technology and training, Guam is like the big brother who
knows what's going on and is willing to help the rest of us," Telei said.

On Guam, police use radar to detect speeding, and offer community
education, such as the Buckle Up Guam Campaign and the car-seat safety checks.

Telei said he wants to see similar driver education programs implemented in
Palau.