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Mesepa drug raid defendants make initial appearances

American Samoa District Court building
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Three men appeared in the District Court this week in relation to the drug raid in Mesepa.

Justin Unasa is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) with intent to distribute and unlawful possession with bail set at $40,000.

The co-defendants are Viane Soonalole and Molesi Toala who are facing charges of unlawful possession of meth.

According to the government’s case, investigators from Criminal Investigation Division and Vice and Narcotics executed a search warrant on the defendant’s residence in Mesepa and a hut near the house with ping pong table.

It’s alleged that when police arrived at the defendant’s residence, he was spotted at the hut playing ping-pong with two other men. They were detained and patted down for any weapons.

 At the hut police saw Soonalole toss a glass pipe containing crystalline substances when detectives approached him. 

“The glass pipe was discovered at the area where he was detained. He was later transported to the Fagatogo headquarters for further investigations.”

Toala was also patted down and a glass pipe containing a usable amount of crystalline substance was discovered inside his left pocket.

It’s alleged that Toala attempted to flee from detectives but was captured and detained.

According to the criminal complaint, when police searched Unasa, they found a baggie with 11 cut up pink-beige straws, all filled with crystalline substances inside his left pocket along with a keychain with $25 cash. 

“Also discovered in his right pocket was a pink-beige cut up straw filled with crystalline substances. When asked regarding the items discovered inside his pockets, Unasa stated it was his.

The search of the house revealed further amounts of drugs and a variety of drug paraphernalia.

(Edited to show the correct name of Justin Unasa.)