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Man from Samoa allegedly found with marijuana plant in 2020 is arrested

Just say no to marijuana graphic
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 57-year-old man from Samoa accused of planting a marijuana plant behind his house in Leone last year has now been arrested and charged.

The defendant, Falaniko Saili made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, a felony.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

About 7 a.m on Nov. 15, 2020,Vice and Narcotics K9 Unit were informed of a dispute in progress between a couple in Sogi-Leone who got into a dispute about the husband allegedly planting marijuana. Detectives arrived at the scene and met with the reporter, who is also the victim in the dispute case and briefed detectives about the case.

According to the victim’s verbal and written statement, the argument started from the day before and continued to that morning. She stated that she does not know what happened to her husband but she suspected that he must have been on drugs of some sort.

The victim stated that her husband was always upset and used profane words in front of their kids and he is always angry for no reason. They got into an argument because she mentioned his marijuana plant that she discovered the day before.

According to the victim’s statement, she saw her husband the day before, with a bucket of water, walk straight to the location where she later found the marijuana plant.

The defendant took off before police arrived.

The victim directed detectives to the location of the marijuana plant, which was about 10 yards away from the house. The marijuana plant was hidden in the garden adjacent to the house and was about 3-4 feet tall. The plant was seized and turned into the DPS Evidence Room.

The plant was tested and it revealed a positive result for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.