Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Pereira Merciano, Fetoai Isa’ako and Paul Taliva’a appeared in the District Court yesterday on drug charges after a raid was carried out this past Friday in Leloaloa.

All three men are held on bail of $30,000 in relation to a search warrant executed by detectives of the Vice and Narcotics and Criminal Investigation Divisions. 

According to the government’s case, last Friday police located Merciano getting inside a vehicle.

The armed officers had a search warrant for Merciano and upon approaching the vehicle, he was found in the driver’s side rear passenger seat along with three other male occupants. Merciano was asked to exit the vehicle and was detained and patted down for weapons.

“Detectives observed a white cut up straw with blue stripes (containing crystalline substance) underneath the area where Merciano had been sitting in the vehicle.

“When asked who the straw belonged to, [Merciano] refused to answer.”

 The criminal complaint points out that Isa’ako and another passenger who has not been charged were detained.

“Upon detaining all three, investigators discovered a simoi baggie containing 20 white straws with colored stripes containing crystalline substance underneath the back seat.

“A later search of the vehicle revealed three neon cut up straws containing crystalline substance discovered inside the top compartment of the vehicle.

“When the passengers were asked about the neon cut up straws, they stated that they had no knowledge that there were straws inside the vehicle and they were only trying to get home.”

Police took into custody the driver of the vehicle, who later was not charged, and he informed officers the drugs found belonged to Merciano.

It’s alleged that on the same evening police also executed a search warrant for Taliva’a at his residence in the village of Leloaloa as mentioned in the search warrant.

“Upon approaching the residence investigators discovered Taliva’a in the restroom along with a dark green fanny pack containing a roach, an empty white straw with blue stripes and scissors with a burnt tip.

“The search continued to a container lot owned by the Taliva’a family where detectives discovered a man sitting outside the opening of a white container used as a hangout spot and storage for Talivaa’s fishing gears.

“Detectives discovered a clear simoi baggie containing crystalline substance inside one of the duffle bags inside the container.

“Detectives also discovered several propane tanks, torch lighters along with several empty cut up straws that were discovered around the container.”

Police took to the police station a male witness who informed the officers the drugs found inside container belonged to Taliva’a.

All three men —Merciano, Isa’ako and Taliva’a — are charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.