Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 27, 2024, police officers conducted a traffic stop on a rental vehicle for speeding. Later investigation revealed cocaine and methamphetamine (meth) inside the said vehicle.

The suspect, identified as Shawn Siamu was arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, and a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $20,000.00, or both; and,

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, and a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $20,000.00, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.00.

The court affidavit stated that on Dec. 27th, at about 7:56 p.m., police officers were patrolling the highway eastbound. They observed a rental vehicle speeding, heading westbound in the village of Laulii. The officers conducted a traffic stop of the said vehicle near the Methodist Church in Lauli’i.

As the officers approached the vehicle, they identified the driver as Shawn Siamu.

The officers later discovered that Siamu had no driver’s license, and as a result  was transported to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) along with his impounded vehicle for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the FPS, Siamu was cited for speeding and no driver’s license.

The rental vehicle was subject to an inventory search before Siamu went home and before the vehicle was released to the owner.

It was during the inventory search, authorities discovered a green plastic container inside the armrest compartment containing a glass pipe used to smoke meth. Inside the glass pipe was residue of a crystalline substance that tested positive for meth.

Siamu informed the officers that it was not his property.

The inventory search continued to a black sling bag that Siamu claimed was his, which contained empty cut up straws and a small baggie containing a white powdery substance. According to the suspect’s verbal statement, it was a detergent powder given to him by a friend. Authorities tested the white powdery substances and it yielded positive results for cocaine. Tests were also conducted on the residue inside the glass pipe and it revealed a positive result for meth.

On the same date at around 9:00 p.m., Siamu was Mirandized and exercised his right to remain silent.

He was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours. Evidence was documented and turned into the Evidence Custodial.