A recent article by an established newspaper, The Guardian, titled ‘The new drug highway: Pacific islands at center of cocaine trafficking boom’ suggests that the cocaine and methamphetamine from US and Latin America is being transported to Australia via South Pacific Island nations. Island Times interviewed the Director of Narcotics Enforcement Agency Ismael Aguon to […]
Tag: drugs
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Palauan arrested in Manila was a confidential informant
Sebalt testified that Teman was paid for his work with the task force but couldn’t remember the amount that he was paid. The Palauan man arrested in Manila last week for alleged attempted methamphetamine trafficking was a confidential informant (CI) of former Belau Drug Enforcement Task Force (BDETF) and proved to be a key player […]
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Drug dealers ask sexual favors from minors in exchange for meth
Representational Image (Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexels) The drug problem that Palau faces is intertwined with sexual exploitation of young girls. Ismael Aguon who is the director of Narcotics Enforcement Agency(NEA) said, “I think the youngest male drug user is 13 and female is 12.” According to Aguon, in exchange of methamphetamine (ice) minor females are sexually […]
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Still no ‘meaningful’ drug rehab program in Palau yet: NEA Director
NEA Director Ismael Aguon(File Photo) Narcotics Enforcement Agency (NEA)Director Ismael Aguon said in an interview that there is still no ‘meaningful’ drug rehabilitation program available in Palau. Aguon said that in the past, there were no ways to help a drug addict. “I still feel that way, I still feel that they need professional help, […]
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Public Defender wants SP to look into NEA agents in illegal search, detention cases
Representational Image (by Eshan Kalyanikar) The Public Defender’s office called for the special prosecutor to look into cases involving narcotics enforcement agents following the court’s rulings to dismiss multiple drug charges against different individuals due to illegal search and detention. In a press statement issued to Island Times, Acting Chief Public Defender James Hanley said […]
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‘Zero tolerance’ does not mean zero compassion, Remengesau says
President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. said during a press conference on Wednesday, November 21, that the government’s zero tolerance policy against illegal drugs does not mean that one could no longer be compassionate and be able to give someone a second chance in life. Remengesau, who recently received backlash for granting pardon to drug convict Kalingo […]