THREE MORE POT PLANTATIONS RAIDED

Authorities stormed three different marijuana plantations on Saipan
Thursday, resulting in the confiscation of 50 marijuana plants that
reportedly have a street value of $700, police said yesterday.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson PO2 Jason Tarkong said teams
from the DPS-Criminal Investigation Bureau-Special Investigation
Section raided locations in As Lito, Gualo Rai, and E' Denni where 50
marijuana plants were uprooted.

The confiscated marijuana plants were 3 feet to 11 feet tall, with a
street value between $500 and $700, Tarkong said in a media briefing
Friday afternoon.

Although no arrest has been made yet, Tarkong said law enforcement
officers are now investigating the cases and some individuals have
already been invited for questioning to determine the extent of their
involvement in these cases.

He also noted that cases are being built against individuals involved
in the seven marijuana plantations that were earlier raided by police
operatives, adding that the DPS is expecting to invite more people for
questioning regarding illegal drug-related activities.

Thursday's raids brought to eight the total number of operations
against marijuana growers; confiscated marijuana plants now total 436,
with more than $15,000 in 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 from its first
six operations. Raids had been conducted in Chalan Kiya, San Antonio,
Marpi, Capitol Hill, and China Town properties.