by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Guam Environmental Protection Agency has launched an investigation into a Harmon company that is believed to have been operating for weeks illegally without the necessary permits, accepting thousands of pounds of stolen copper wire. Police say the company's owners are cooperating and voluntarily decided to shut down operations.

Governor Eddie Calvo announced from his office at Adelup on Tuesday, "I want to congratulate and thank [Police] Chief [Fred] Bordallo and our law enforcement and police department for moving quickly in apprehending suspects in these thefts of copper wire." The island's chief executive and Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio applauded the hard work of the Guam Police Department.

A special task force of Tumon-Tamuning and Dededo Precinct officers got a break in the case when an informant provided crucial information that led them to Viba Recycling, where they recovered eight tons of stolen copper wire and executed three search warrants in the Dededo area, resulting in six arrests.

The company only received its permit from the Guam EPA on January 7 - two days before police executed a search warrant at the business and found the copper wire. "We are going to do a strong forensic investigation into the activities of this business seen as receiving these stolen goods," said Calvo.

In fact, the Guam EPA already launched an investigation and sent a team to talk to the owners, Sung Kook Kim and Dae Woong Kim. GEPA administrator Eric Palacios said, "Specifically they will look at whether or not the company had been receiving solid waste prior to the issuance of its operating permit."

The team is also looking at whether the company kept in logs of the items they received which is required by law. According to court documents, Viba Recycling is where the suspects would turn in the stolen copper wire in exchange for cash. If they validate the information, the Guam EPA could revoke or suspend the permit for Viba and issue stiff penalties for the violations.

GPD meanwhile continues their investigation and confirm that the owners are cooperating with them, but Chief Bordallo is also asking for the public's cooperation, telling KUAM News, "We need the help of the community. If they have any information especially among some of the people who were arrested, if they know of any information to please contact Guam Crimestoppers at 477-HELP."

Chief Bordallo promised that more arrests would be made in the case.

Freddy Suisuico, Terrance Joe Chiguina Meno, and Eric Faisao are being held on $50,000 cash bail for charges of burglary, theft of property and crimes against the community for allegedly stealing thousands of feet of copper wire from multiple public schools. Police also arrested Albert Taimanglo for burglary and theft of property for his role in copper wire thefts at local businesses. The career criminals were on pre-trial release for other pending criminal cases.

Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas promised that his office will prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent of the law, saying, "That's just the bottom line - we have to send a message to the community thefts like this won't go unpunished. They need to go to jail and stay in jail and pay back the monies they've taken and the damage they've caused to the school, so we will be seeking the stiffest punishments that we can to make sure that they're in jail and the community is paid back."