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Latest drug bust at Post Office is allegedly a repeat case

Alleged previous case was similar, but defendant not charged
joyetter@samoanews.com

Drug defendant, Gerhard Haleck Otto is facing one criminal count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, in connection with the latest drug bust at the Post Office last week.

Samoa News notes the court document identifies the defendant as —Gerhard Haleck Otto — however, sources say the defendant is known as “Gerhard Otto Haleck”.

The criminal count is punishable for between five to ten years in jail and or a fine of $5,000 up to $20,000 or both.

According to the government’s case, on January 3, 2017 the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was contacted for assistance by the Custom’s K9 Supervisor regarding a young man who picked up a package at the post office containing a green leafy substance that tested positive for THC or marijuana.

The court filing says that when CID Detectives arrived there were four sandwich-plastic baggies. The K9 handler informed the Detectives that their dog alerted near the parcel during usual inspection and the following day Haleck picked up the parcel.

The package was addressed to Gabriel Otto Haleck, PO BOX 1138, 96799 and the sender’s address was from a Haleck, 17214 24th Avenue, CT E Tacoma, Washington, 98445.

According to court documents, on January 3, 2017 the defendant walked into the post office to claim the package and when the defendant was asked if he was Gabriel he noted that he wasn’t — it was his little brother. The box was then inspected by Customs and the defendant told the Customs agents, “It was his supplements”.

Court filings further say that the Customs agent opened a bottle, which contained powder and the Custom agent saw a clear plastic baggie inside the bottle.

The powder was poured out and the agents uncovered four plastic baggies containing a grean leafy substance which was later tested positive as THC or marijuana.

Questioned by the Customs agent, the defendant admitted that the powder supplement was his, but he did not know anything about the “weed”.

Court filings note that on July 29, 2014 the defendant was involved in a similar case where he picked up mail that contained the same amount of marijuana from the Post Office. Samoa News understands the defendant was not charged in the similar incident noted in the court filings.

The defendant made his initial appearance in the District Court last week and he has since been released on bail. According to the arrest warrant the initial bail set by the District Court was $5,000.