Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a vehicle that was pulled over by police officers during a traffic stop in Nuuuli last month was arrested and taken into custody after police allegedly discovered drugs in his vehicle.

On Feb. 07, 2022 about 3:35a.m, two officers patrolling the Nuuuli area stopped a vehicle for speeding. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Palemia Lolesio, the defendant in this case.

According to the officers’ verbal statement to investigators, as they spoke with Lolesio they observed a glass pipe in the driver’s seat door compartment. The officers immediately detained Lolesio and impounded his vehicle at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation.

Officers also conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered another glass pipe in the center console with a usable amount of a white crystalline substance inside.

The inventory search continued and officers also discovered half a hand rolled marijuana joint under the driver’s seat. The arresting police officers seized two glass pipes containing a white crystalline substance and half a hand rolled marijuana joint and later referred all the evidence to Vice & Narcotics detectives for further investigation.

Detectives interviewed Lolesio after he was Mirandized, and refused to make a statement.

Testing of all substances revealed positive results for methamphetamine (meth) and THC, the active compound in marijuana.

Lolesio made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, 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 note more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

VAASILI POLOGA

A man accused of violating local drug laws last year was arrested by police last month. The man, Vaasili Pologa fled from police officers during a traffic stop, however, he was arrested by police last month after he was served with a copy of the arrest warrant. 

Pologa made his initial appearance in Court last month.

Pologa is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine (meth); and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance meth with intent to distribute; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, all unclassified felonies

Bail is established at $20,000.

THE CASE

The government claims that on Dec. 17, 2021 at about 5:50p.m, two police officers who were patrolling the public highway on the west side received a radio transmission from another patrol car stating that they were in a hot pursuit of a vehicle and were heading to the west side.

The two patrolling officers responded and headed to the west bound lane in Taputimu where the fleeing truck was speeding away, heading straight to the back of a dirt road. The police unit continued to pursue the speeding vehicle until they reached a dead end. Two males were seen exiting the truck and fleeing on foot into the bush.

The two police officers pursued the two males on foot and while searching for them police allegedly heard gunshots coming from an area nearby.

Only one of the men was found hiding inside a bushy area and immediately apprehended. Officers discovered two cut up straws containing white crystalline substance and cash on him.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of more illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as cash that was found inside a back bag that was inside the truck.

The government claims that the vehicle was an old beat up truck, no license plate and keys were not in the ignition, the vehicle was left at the scene.

The male that was found was transported to the TPS for questioning. He told police that everything that was discovered inside the vehicle belonged to the person who drove the vehicle, who was Vaasili Pologa, the defendant in this case.

According to the government, the co-defendant was in the passenger seat while Pologa was the driver of the vehicle.

The co-defendant further stated that the two cut up straws that were discovered by police when they apprehended him was given to him by Pologa, for fixing his vehicle.

The white crystalline substance inside the two cut up straws found in the co-defendant’s possession tested positive for meth.

Officers also tested the drugs that were allegedly found inside the truck, and they were positive for meth and THC, the active compound in marijuana.

The second male, Pologa, the defendant, was finally arrested by police last month and was served with a copy of the arrest warrant, after two months on the run.