Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In the early hours of Thursday morning, police carried out a raid on a commercial building in the Nu'uuli area, and the operation resulted in the arrest of six individuals, among whom were two Chinese nationals, who are now under investigation.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Taaga Saite Moliga told KVZK TV about the raid's successful execution and its importance in the ongoing battle against drug-related offenses and illegal gambling activities. However, he stopped short from sharing further specifics regarding the operation, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the investigation, which is still ongoing.

He said law enforcement officials executed a search warrant initially sought nearly a month ago.

The results of the raid included the seizure of a substantial cache of cash, a significant amount of crystal methamphetamine — commonly referred to as ice — and eight illicit gaming machines.

According to Commissioner Ta’aga, significant concerns have been raised regarding the presence of gaming machines in the territory, emphasizing that they are not produced locally. He pointed out that they have been smuggled across the borders without being detected by authorities, which raises issues of regulation and safety.

Additionally, he highlighted the potential negative impact of such unregulated gaming on the community.

Meanwhile, the individuals arrested during the raid are scheduled to appear in District Court this morning to face charges related to the unauthorized importation of these machines as well as illegal drugs.