By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Saipan-- Stepping up the clampdown on drug trafficking on Saipan, federal authorities have sent two Chinese citizens behind bars after being convicted of attempting to locally distribute crystal meth shipped to the island via mail.
Chun Yang and Yurong Wang were convicted of conspiracy to possess over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Both are facing deportation after completing their prison terms.
Chun, 46, was sentenced to serve 70 months, with five years of supervised release following release, 100 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, and a $100 special assessment fee.
Yurong, 50, was sentenced to 46 months incarceration, five years of supervised release following release, 100 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, and a $100 special assessment fee.
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of partnerships among Commonwealth and federal law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson said. “A substantial amount of methamphetamine was kept out of our communities. I applaud the efforts of all involved in bringing these defendants to justice.”
On June 21, 2022, agents of the CNMI Customs and Biosecurity confiscated 1,809.80 grams of methamphetamine inside a mail parcel during a routine inspection at the U.S. Post Office on the island of Saipan. The parcel was mailed from California.
Upon discovery of the methamphetamine, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration joined the investigation. On June 22, 2022, DEA and the CNMI Department of Public Safety Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted surveillance while the parcel was claimed from the post office, transported after exchanges between multiple persons and vehicles, and ultimately delivered to Wang.
After receiving the package, Wang brought it to an apartment where she met Yang and Xing Rui Gao, also a Chinese. The three individuals intended to distribute the drugs on Saipan. They were promptly arrested after opening the package.
Gao was charged separately and pled guilty on Oct. 4. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2024. None of the defendants had lawful immigration status at the time of the offense.
“Operation Cloudy Day” was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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