NEW YORK: Seven personnel of the CNMI Customs Service Division completed the fourth cycle training, Custom training coordinator Rita Mae Santos said.
The 200-hour basic training focuses on tax collection, regulation and enforcement, ethics, report writing, and the use of pepper-spray, hand-cuffs and firearms.
Santos said the training started in July, and the lecturers and trainers were from the Office of the Public Auditor, the Department of Public Safety, the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Environmental Coastal Quality.
The participants received their certificates of completion at the Customs office at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport during a Thanksgiving luncheon for customs personnel.
The event was also attended by Finance Secretary Larissa Larson while Gov. Ralph Torres sent a congratulatory message.
Customs Director Jose Mafnas commended the trainees: John Salas, Chris Duenas, Chai Magofna, Tobi Fleming, Juan Inos, Ryan Kikku and Joshua Mafnas.
The training will help motivate Customs personnel to be more dedicated officers, he added.
“We need to guard ourselves against the crooks who are trying to bring in illegal stuff,” he said.
