illicit drugs

Samoa Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai Keti told Tala Fou that police seized methamphetamine and utensils, marijuana and a 9mm unlawful pistol from the site after they executed a search warrant on Saturday.

The five individuals, the oldest being 62 years old, are now jointly charged with possession of narcotics and utensils.

They are all in custody to await their first court appearance on 22 May 2023 for mention.

The appeal was initiated by Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil after the successful Police raid, which resulted in the confiscation of 90 branches and 475 cigarettes of marijuana, five plastic bags of Methamphetamine (a.k.a. ice) and tested positive by SROS.

Each package has a street value of $100 tala.

Savali Newspaper reports law enforcers estimate the total street value of the illegal drugs at $5,000.

Information from the Faleatiu Village had aided police with their surprised raid, acknowledged Fuiavailili.

Director of Homeland Security Samana Semo Veavea says the man and his wife work on a farm in Leone and have lived in the territory for a few years. They have a local sponsor whom Homeland Security is questioning.

Samana says their investigations reveal that the husband traveled from Samoa on Sunday with the counter medication which were confiscated by the Department of Health because they did not have English labelling.

These were Panadol tablets and eye drops.

The woman travelled from Singapore via Fiji before landing in Samoa on Sunday.

Customs Officers referred the matter to police upon suspicion that she was in possession of illicit drugs in the form of pills or tablets.

An initial drug test was conducted and the results came out positive for heroin and cocaine.

 The K9 detector dog was also used to re-confirm the illicit drugs.

The 24 year old was transiting through Samoa for her final destination to American Samoa.