Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a vehicle pulled over by officers for speeding in Matuu and Faganeanea where drugs were discovered in the vehicle told police that he sells ice to get quick money for himself.

The driver, Paul Taliva’a was arrested and made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) with intent to distribute; one count of unlawful possession of meth; one count of unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, all felonies.

Bail is set at $40,000.

THE CASE

On Jan. 31, 2022, Detectives of the Vice and Narcotics K9 Unit responded to a matter at the Fagatogo Central Police Headquarters where a patrol officer stopped a speeding vehicle and observed illegal drugs upon encountering the driver. Detectives were briefed by the officers who initiated the stop.

According to the officers, they were patrolling heading westbound in Matu’u and Faganeanea when they observed a speeding four-door vehicle heading eastbound. The traffic stop was initiated at a bus stop in Faganeanea.

Officers approached the driver of the vehicle, a male, later identified as Paul Taliva’a, the defendant in this matter. Taliva’a did not possess a driver license or any form of identification.

As officers spoke with Taliva’a, another officer observed what appeared to be a cut up straw inside an unzipped grey hand bag that was on the front passenger seat along with his cigarettes next to the hand bag. When asked what was inside the handbag, Taliva’a informed officers that it was his cigarettes.

Taliva’a then grabbed his cigarette next to the handbag and tried to put them inside the handbag; and by doing so officers observed clearly cut up straws containing a crystalline substance and several hand rolled marijuana joints. Officers questioned Taliva’a about the contents of the handbag and he informed officers that it was ‘ice’.

When also asked who the ‘ice’ belonged to, Taliva’a responded that it was his. Then he furthered stated that the meth was for him to sell because he needed money immediately, but the joints were for his personal use. Taliva’a was then detained and his vehicle was impounded at police headquarters for further investigation.

Inventory of the vehicle was conducted upon arrival at the headquarters in the presence of Taliva’a and officers discovered inside the handbag 12 clear cut up straws filled with a crystalline substance; 7 hand rolled marijuana joints; an empty cut up straw; MC rolling papers and $200 cash.

Officers also found a hand made cardboard container with a glass pipe containing a usable amount of crystalline substance inside, along with possible drug paraphernalia. Further search to the trunk of the vehicle revealed more possible drug paraphernalia.

All items were seized and referred to Vice and Narcotics K9 Unit for further investigation.

 After he was Mirandized, Taliva’a stated that he understood his rights and wished to remain silent.