Searches were drug interdiction: DEA special agent said searches meant to stop 'ice'

By Steve Limtiaco • Pacific Daily News • October 10, 2008 The decision to search more than a hundred Chinese tourists at the Saipan airport Saturday was part of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration effort to stop the flow of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," to the island, according to the special agent in charge of the region. Tourists on the Shanghai Airlines flight started their vacation by being patted down at the airport for more than three hours. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands tourism and government officials have expressed concern about the way the tourists were treated and the potential impact on the Chinese tourism market. A tour agent for about half the plane's passengers said 147 of 187 passengers were searched. "We apologize for that, but we're going to continue to do our jobs," said Anthony... [read full story]