POLICE TO RAID MORE MARIJUANA FARMS

The Department of Public Safety is serving more search warrants to individuals
reportedly involved in marijuana operations on Saipan, in efforts to rid the
community of illegal substance.

DPS spokesperson PO2 Jason Tarkong said police are digging deeper into reports
of more pot plantations on the island that are maintained by unscrupulous
individuals.

Tarkong said the Criminal Investigation Bureau-Special Investigation Service
would be serving more warrants to suspected individuals and properties
reportedly growing marijuana plants.

This, after operatives raided three more plantations in As Lito, Gualo Rai, and
E'Denni last week were authorities confiscated 50 marijuana plants and
seedlings with an estimated street value of $500 to $700.

According to Tarkong, more raids would be conducted soon as police operatives
gather more evidence and conduct surveillance of locations identified by
several police sources.

The latest raid brought to 10 the operations against marijuana growers that had
been conducted by the DPS narcotics division and brought to 436 the total
number of confiscated marijuana plants with over $15,000 street value.

Earlier, the DPS disclosed that information leading to the arrest of suspected
marijuana growers continue to flood the CNMI Crime Stoppers and the CIB-SIS.

The police department had confiscated 311 marijuana seedlings and plants with
an estimated street value of over $13,000 during the first wave of its
marijuana crackdown. Immediately, one more raid was conducted in Capitol Hill,
followed by the three last week in different locations.

Authorities said no arrest has been made that stemmed from the raids, as police
operatives continue to build a strong case against several individuals.