SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — The governor of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands said he was shocked to learn his driver-bodyguard had been accused of peddling methamphetamine.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial also expressed disappointment Sunday that federal authorities didn’t tell him about their suspicions, saying his and his family’s lives were endangered.
A confidential source testified he made a drug deal with Pete Reyes in Fitial’s government-issued vehicle after Reyes dropped the governor at his office, according to court documents.
A U.S. District Court grand jury on Thursday indicted Reyes on one count of possession of a controlled substance.
Reyes was placed under house arrest after his attorney, Robert Torres, informed the court that his client has a serious heart ailment.
“I am shocked and saddened by this incident,” Fitial said. “Its very, very sad. But at the same time, I am also very concerned about the safety that I should have, not only coming from my own driver but also from the federal drug agency. If they knew about this since March, they should have told me.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement and Administration’s relationship with the Fitial administration turned sour last year after a group of Chinese tourists aboard the inaugural flight of the Shanghai-Saipan route complained they were stripped-searched upon their arrival at Saipan International Airport.
No drugs were found, and Fitial suspended the joint DEA-CNMI anti-drug task force following the incident.
The Northern Mariana Islands are located about 3,800 miles southwest of Hawaii.