Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The name of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center was unfairly tarnished in news reports which tied it to the discovery of drugs, mainly crystal methamphetamine, through no fault of theirs.

This was according to LBJ CEO Dr. Akapusi Ledua’s testimony in yesterday’s Senate Health Committee hearing.

Dr. Ledua appeared before the committee accompanied by CFO Sefanaia Kaumaitotoya, CMO Dr. James Sunia, and LBJ HR Director Stanley Iakopo.

Ledua told senators that the first incident which splashed LBJ with the word “drugs” in the same breath in local newspapers, airwaves through radio news reports, and on the internet through social media, happened in 2018.

Unfortunately, he pointed out that none of them testifying were in any position to understand the details of the incident at that particular time.

The LBJ CEO shared that the information about the incident that he had gathered, was not documented and that it was garnered through conversations and interviews with some of the employees involved in the controversy through no fault of theirs.

Ledua said he was informed that a box was delivered to LBJ Hospital from their procurement office, and inside were envelopes addressed to different departments.

When the recipients opened the envelopes, they found a sealed air-tight plastic bag containing a white substance that they could not ascertain.

One of the recipients he had interviewed told him that she did not know or understand what it was, but a hospital security officer who witnessed it told her it might be drugs and advised her to call the police.

Subsequently, the matter was brought to the LBJ management who checked the packages and immediately contacted DPS.

Samoa News reported the incident at the time that 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 were valued at more than $400,000.

The FBI has also been involved in the investigation of this case.

Regarding the recent case in which LBJ was mentioned in connection with crystal methamphetamine found in a parcel at the Post Office in Fagatogo, Dr. Ledua was quick to point out that LBJ was mentioned because the person who had turned up to pick up the parcel in question, was one of their security guards who was off duty on that day.

The LBJ CEO explained that the parcel had been addressed to the security guard and she has since resigned from her job at the hospital.

Senator Satele Aliitai Lili'o asked if the case that happened in 2018 was closed or not, since the FBI was involved in the investigation. Satele said if the investigation was still ongoing, then Dr. Ledua should know the latest developments since he is now the CEO.

Ledua replied that he did not have any information on the case.

Satele asked if he had enquired at the Attorney General's Office or the DPS Vice and Narcotics Division and again, Ledua said he has not.

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean intervened and said that up to now, the Fono is still waiting for reports from the 2018 LBJ drug case and another case involving drugs smuggled into the Territory through the American Samoa Government Office in Hawaii.

Tuaolo said the right person to summon so he can shed light on the matter, was the AG.

Senator Alo Paul Stevenson indicated that the LBJ security guard involved in the recent drug case was off duty, but one can assume that other LBJ employees are taking drugs.

Dr. Ledua responded that currently, LBJ is carrying out random drug tests on all employees starting from the CEO to the housekeepers.

He revealed that they had received the results of the latest drug tests conducted last month on 25 security personnel, 39 housekeeping staff members, 44 maintenance workers, 3 bio-medical engineers, and one from Human Resources, and none of them tested positive for drugs.

The hospital CEO further stated that he was also instructed one morning to report to the laboratory to have his test done and he complied with all the requirements and his results were negative.

Senator Utu Sila Poasa advised the CEO to be alert on the delivery of supplies for the hospital pharmacy because this was one avenue the smugglers may use to smuggle drugs in through the pharmacy medical drugs supply.

President Tuaolo expressed his concern about the credibility of the drug tests conducted by LBJ and suggested that it be done by another government entity or a private company.