Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 30, 2024, traffic officers conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of David “Jay” Ah-Ching who was allegedly found with Methamphetamine.

The suspect was arrested and later charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $10,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 30th, at about 9:57 p.m., police officers stopped a pickup truck. The truck was equipped with a muffler that made an unusual noise and was heard around an area in Utulei adjacent from the Centennial building.

Upon encountering the said vehicle, the authorities discovered two occupants, both men, in their late twenties. The driver was identified as Jack Filipo and his passenger Jay Ah-Ching also known as (AKA) David Ah-Ching.

Filipo did not possess a driver’s license or any form of identification, and was therefore detained and escorted to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for further investigation.

Ah-Ching was told to exit the vehicle and was patted down for any weapons or contrabands. During the pat down, police officers discovered items bulging from Ah-Ching’s left pants pocket. When emptying his pockets, police officers discovered a small baggie containing seven cut up straws filled with crystalline substances, a glass pipe (used to smoke meth) wrapped in a napkin and cash of five hundred and thirty nine dollars ($539.00 USD).

Also found in Ah-Ching's possession was a cell phone and another baggie containing a crystalline substance rock about the size of a quarter. When asked about the discovery, he had no response.

Police officers seized all the items discovered and detained Ah-Ching to be transported to the FPS.

All the items discovered were referred to the Vice & Narcotics Unit (VNU) for further investigation. Tests were conducted by VNU officials on the crystalline substances inside the cut-straws, glass pipe and crystalline rock inside the baggies yielded positive for Methamphetamine.

On the same date at about 10:31 p.m., Ah-Ching was Mirandized to which he said he understood, and exercised his rights to remain silent.

He was then booked and later confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours.

All recovered items were documented and later turned into the department’s evidence custodial. Evidence recovered was inconsistent with personal use.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.