The Office of the Attorney General filed the first two drug charges of 2022 last week, charging Yuske Smart Adachi and Tellames Johanes for trafficking and possession of methamphetamine, otherwise known as “ice.”
Adachi was charged with two counts of Trafficking a Controlled Substance, a felony charge carrying a jail sentence of not less than 25 years and not more than fifty years and a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than a million.
He was also charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, also a felony charge carrying a sentence of not less than five years and a fine of not less than $10,000.
Johanes was charged with one count of Trafficking of a Controlled Substance and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Both are charged under the new and tougher drug law carrying stiffer penalties.
With Palau’s borders re-opening, the use of illegal drugs, especially “ice,” is on the rise. Ministry of Justice says they are working with all their resources to stem the drug influx tide. The abovementioned cases are but two out of 15 in the process of being charged.