Public Safety officials testify on status of drug interdiction in the territory
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Alarmed by the continued influx of synthetic drugs into the Territory, senators have begun questioning whether government agencies tasked with border security,

![(l-r) Homeland Security Deputy Director Esau Esau, Homeland Security Director Vaetagaloa Glenn Lefiti, Acting Public Safety Commissioner Tautalaso'o Moliga, and Deputy Commissioner Falana'i Ta'ase Sagapolutele testify before a Senate committee hearing on drug trafficking and law enforcement coordination in the Territory last Thursday. Apparently DHS has taken over as lead in drug interdiction efforts in the territory [photo: Asi A. Fa'asau] Homeland Security officials](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/10000_jpg.jpg?itok=1D9t1eTE)



![Wave buoys like these are essential instruments in ocean observing and there are over 600 assets, including buoys, reporting wave data throughout IOOS. Wave information is important for weather forecasting, safe navigation, port operations, coastal planning, coastal hazard prediction and mitigation, and many more applications. [courtesy photo] WACE BUOY](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wave_buoys.jpg?itok=Q1V2oDyh)
![Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown addresses leaders at PRECOP31 discussions in Fiji. [Photo: Supplied / Cook Islands Office of the PM] Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/cook_islands_pm_copy.jpg?itok=c2fYazX_)

![“We look forward to this special Sunday featuring the children of our islands, knowing they are a gift and heritage to us directly from the Lord (Psalm 127:3),” Congresswoman Amata said in the White Sunday message she sent to Samoa News along with this photo. [courtesy photo] White Sunday children performing](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/whitesundayphoto.jpg?itok=C46DL9UY)
![The new Airport Solar Farm Project is designed to generate approximately 25 megawatts (MW) of solar power, making it the largest solar energy generation project in American Samoa. It will also include approximately 20 MW / 80 MWh of battery energy storage capacity, providing the ability to store renewable energy and improve the reliability and availability of power. [ASG photo] Airport Solar Farm Project](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/airport_solar.jpeg?itok=qjh0OI-m)
