Northern Marianas Customs is reporting an increase in drug smuggling, prompting them to heighten security efforts in the islands' ports of entry.
Photo: 123RF File photo
Last month, CNMI law enforcement intercepted over two pounds of crystal methamphetamine or "ice" hidden in silicon tubes inside a shipping container from China.
Customs said the illegal drugs were discovered during a routine inspection and had an estimated street value of $US500 per gram, giving it a total value of about $US481,000.
Aside from drug smuggling, Customs also faces a myriad of other problems like the undervaluation of goods, undeclared high tax-rate commodities, and contrabands like fake products and banned hazardous chemicals.