The mayors of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for immediate federal intervention, warning that methamphetamine trafficking has escalated beyond the capacity of local authorities to contain.
In a joint letter sent Aug. 10 to DEA Director Terrance C. Cole, the leaders of the CNMI’s four municipalities said the islands are facing a “devastating” surge in meth distribution and addiction that is straining police, social services, and community organizations.
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho, Tinian & Aguiguan Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Rota Mayor Aubry M. Hocog, and Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Taisakan Jr. signed the appeal, describing a drug crisis that is worsening despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
“Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse have reached levels that our local enforcement and community-support systems can no longer sustain alone,” the mayors wrote. They said drug networks operating in the CNMI have grown increasingly sophisticated, outpacing the islands’ manpower and investigative resources.
The mayors said the effects of the meth crisis are visible daily: rising addiction, increases in property and violent crime, mounting pressure on social service agencies, and what they described as a broader erosion of community stability.
To confront the problem, the municipal leaders asked the federal government to deploy additional DEA personnel to the CNMI, including agents, intelligence analysts, and interdiction specialists. They said federal support would bolster investigations into drug importation routes, strengthen interdiction at ports and maritime channels, and expand training for local officers. They also urged collaboration on prevention and outreach programs.
The mayors emphasized that the CNMI is prepared to work closely with federal partners and said they welcome discussions on operational planning and coordination once DEA personnel are assigned.
They described the request as a necessary step to protect public safety and restore stability in communities increasingly affected by methamphetamine trafficking and abuse.
