A jury found Boyd Sasao, a Palauan resident of Guam, guilty of trafficking and possessing controlled substances, methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” on June 23, 2023, after a five-day jury trial.
Mr. Sasao was apprehended at Palau International Airport on April 7, 2023, when a secondary search was conducted on his person and found 2.4 grams of methamphetamine wrapped in black tape in his pocket. According to court documents, Mr. Sasao claimed the item was for personal use.
The defendant had earlier sought to have the statements he made during the secondary inspection at the airport, particularly the statements where he admitted that the drugs found on him were for his personal use. He claimed his constitutional rights to self-incrimination were violated when he was not given his Miranda rights to remain silent during the arrest.
The jury found Boyd Sasao guilty of the two charges against him, but as of publication, the judgment order and sentencing order have not been issued by the court.
Penalty for Trafficking in Controlled Substances carries a jail sentence of not less than 25 years imprisonment and a fine of not less than $50,000. For Possession of a Controlled Substance, the jail sentence is not less than 15 years and a fine of not less than $10,000. Mr. Sasao was found guilty on both counts by the jury.