By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Noting that Guam is losing its war on drugs, Attorney General Douglas Moylan urged Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to get involved in curtailing the entry of illegal substances to Guam.
Moylan said every container at the Port Authority of Guam must be inspected, urging the administration to leverage the newly purchased drug detection canine units.
"We welcome and ask that you direct all law enforcement cabinet members and the Port Authority of Guam's (board of directors) to work closely with our Office to develop a plan to inspect every container leaving the port," Moylan said in a letter to the governor. "Your personal involvement is needed and welcomed."
Moylan said the past two years have witnessed a steady increase in the number of people becoming addicted to crystal methamphetamine — locally known as "ice"— inundating local rehab service providers and the Adult Drug Courts.
“Based upon the continuing low drug price and ample supply, we are certain that most of the meth is coming in from off-island and through our Port Authority of Guam, hidden in different items, such as cars and equipment, and using various methods for concealment,” Moylan said.
At the University of Guam’s Criminal Justice Capstone class forum last week, Moylan noted that the meth epidemic on Guam was not just a burden on the criminal justice system but a social menace as well. “You have to understand that meth is destroying the very fabric of our community,” he said.
During the same forum, Superior Court Judge Maria Cenzon said despite the introduction of new drugs into the market, meth remains the most abused substance on Guam.
“Every decade has its drug of choice. We are still seeing methamphetamines as the current drug of choice, while fentanyl and other drugs are making their way into the island community,” Cenzon said at the UOG forum.
Last week, local law enforcement agencies presented nine new drug
detector dogs pre-trained to detect methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana.
“The presence of drugs affects every corner of our society. This increase in canine teams will strengthen our ability to detect and disrupt the flow of
dangerous substances before they can further harm this community,” said Ike Peredo, director of the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency.
“As a result of limited resources, amounts of illicit substances have unfortunately
gone undetected and made their way inland. These new dogs are not just an investment in technology or strategy, but an investment in a brighter future for our island,” he added.
Police Chief Stephen Ignacio said the highly trained canines “are a vital addition to our narcotics detection efforts and highlight the strength of collaboration in protecting our community.”
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