CNMI and Guam petition to form coalition with Hawaii to combat drug trafficking through HIDTA program

Attorney General Edward Manibusan and Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho have jointly petitioned seeking High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) designations under the Hawaii HIDTA. The petitions were submitted on June 12, 2020 to the National Office of Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C.

The HIDTA program was created by Congress in accordance with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The program provides financial assistance, support, and law enforcement intelligence to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and territories operating in regions determined to be affected by drug trafficking, with the aim of reducing illegal drug trafficking and production.

“Fighting the drug crisis in the CNMI and Guam requires unified efforts at the local and federal levels,” says AG Manibusan. “Given Hawaii HIDTA designation, the CNMI and Guam Petitioners will be able to rise above the challenges in the fight against drug importation, interdiction, and prosecution,” concluded the Attorney General.

“This time we recognized that working with the CNMI and Hawai’i would be the most effective way of disrupting the flow of drugs into our islands,” says AG Camacho. “Working with General Manibusan and Executive Director Gary Yabuta on this petition was an important first step in a regional collaboration of local and federal law enforcement efforts.”

With limited resources and our islands’ close proximity to Asian countries where drug use and manufacturing are rampant, a HIDTA designation will magnify our efforts in addressing drug trafficking and drug-related crimes. With the support and encouragement of Hawaii HIDTA, the Attorneys General for the CNMI and Guam shared information and ideas on how to best approach our ambition in obtaining a HIDTA designation. A HIDTA designation under Hawaii will allow the CNMI and Guam and Hawaii to collaborate and share federal resources including access to federal funds, provide training and share information to combat drug importation and distribution, reduce drug-related crimes, and increase enforcement efforts.

The 35th Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on Friday, May 3, 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

This year, seven high schools will be participating in the competition and they include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Kagman High School.

The 35th annual speech competition focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year’s topic is centered on the following: Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

Judging the AG’s Cup speech competition this year are current and former Attorneys General, Guam Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, and Chief Judge for the District Court of the NMI Ramona V. Manglona.

The ceremonial Posting of the Colors will be conducted by the JROTC Dolphin Battalion of Marianas High school, and alongside performing the CNMI and National anthem are the talented Marianas High School Glee Club.

The competition will be live streamed via the CNMI Attorney General’s Cup Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2019CNMIAGCUP. Additionally, the broadcasting group of Marianas High School will perform the video production of the speech competition.

The Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI on May 3, at 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. For more information on the Attorney General’s Cup, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237- 7600.

35th Annual AG’s Cup Speech Competition is Scheduled for May 3rd, 2019

The Attorney General is pleased to announce that the 35th Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on May 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

Eight (8) high schools will be participating in this year’s competition. The schools include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Tinian High School, and Kagman High School.

“The AG’s Cup Speech Competition provides the CNMI’s high school students with the opportunity to research an issue that affects the Commonwealth, form a position on the issue, and showcase their voice and passion on the topic,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He adds, “The AG’s Cup Steering Committee have been meeting and working diligently in preparation for this event and we are delighted to have eight high schools join us this year.”

This year’s topic focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: The issue presented in this year’s competition is:

Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

In preparing their speech, the students are asked to consider the following: 1) Cannabis is still illegal federally; discuss how this could affect production and consumption of Cannabis in the CNMI. How has it affected production and consumption in other jurisdictions? 2) What types of regulatory systems have been developed in other jurisdictions that allow recreational Cannabis use? 3) What have been the positives and negatives associated with recreational Cannabis use in jurisdictions that have legalized its use?

“The passing of Public Law 20-66 on September 21, 2018 made for a historic, yet, contentious topic in the CNMI,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He continues, “The topic is of great significance for the students to provide objective analysis and research to decision makers on cannabis policy that will have a significant impact on our community.

The Office of the Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI. For more information on the Speech Competition, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237-7600.

View PDF here.

Super Typhoon Yutu struck the Commonwealth on October 25, 2018. Consumers should be aware, and retailers are on notice, that it is illegal to engage in price gouging following a major disaster.

The Consumer Protection Act makes it unlawful for businesses to engage in price gouging. Price gouging occurs when a business increases prices based solely on a shortage of goods caused by a natural disaster or any other emergency. The Office of the Attorney General will prosecute, both criminally and civilly, any business that engages in price gouging.

The Governor declared a price freeze pursuant to the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act on October 27, 2018, which will be in effect until he rescinds all declarations of emergency, disaster or price freeze.

The price of the following items are frozen:

1. Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, natural gas, and all other chemical fuels, whether in gaseous, liquid, or solid form;
2. All foods and foodstuffs, including water, bottled water, beverages, and ice;
3. All clothing;
4. Flashlights, lamps, lanterns, candles, light bulbs, and other means of illumination;
5. Generators, cables, wires, electrical batteries of every sort, and similar equipment for the generation and/or transmission of electrical power;
6. All appliances used in the storage and/or preparation of food, including, but not limited to, stoves, barbecue grilles, ovens, refrigerators, and coolers;
7. Tools typically used for construction, ground clearing, or home repairs, whether electrically powered, chemically powered, or manual, including, but not limited to, saws, machetes, hammers, drills, shovels, rakes, and brooms.
8. All bedding items, including pillows, futons and blankets.