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DPS investigating meth shipment that came through LBJ's mail

Sources say hospital mail doesn't go through Customs checks
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit is investigating the case involving seven packages containing a crystalline substance that were discovered in the LBJ Hospital's mail last week.

So far, no person has been arrested or treated as a suspect in this case.

Samoa News understands that detectives from the Vice & Narcotics have been working on the case since last week and they have interviewed some people who may help them get some useful information about the case.

Furthermore, detectives are trying to track down the path the LBJ mail is going through when they arrive on island.

Efforts to obtain a comment from LBJ CEO Faumuina Taufete'e Faumuina yesterday were unsuccessful; however, Samoa News was able to receive some solid information from hospital sources regarding this case.

According to our sources, the LBJ mail does not go through Customs checks and they are delivered directly to LBJ's Procurement Division. The packages in question were apparently addressed to various divisions of the hospital including the nursing division, the Dept. of Health, and the DOH health centers in Tafuna and Amouli.

Samoa News was told that the LBJ Procurement Division delivered one of the packages to the Nursing Division; however, the package was returned, with the Nursing Division saying they were not aware of such an order.

The Procurement Division then contacted LBJ CEO Faumuina to notify him of the situation. Faumuina checked the packages and immediately contacted DPS.

Sources from DPS told Samoa News that detectives of the Vice & Narcotics Unit is not taking the matter lightly. They are doing their very best to make sure those responsible for bringing in the packages are brought to justice.

DPS tested the crystalline substance, and it turned positive for pure crystal methamphetamine or ice. It's understood that the drugs found in the 7 packages are valued at more than $400,000.