Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Methamphetamine (meth) along with drug paraphernalia was discovered when armed DPS Vice and Narcotics officers executed a search warrant at a home in Pago Pago early Friday morning, Nov. 11, 2022.

Details of the raid were confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Foifua Foifua during a phone interview with Samoa News this past weekend.

No weapons were found during the raid.

The search warrant that was signed by the Court directed detectives to search a residence in Pago Pago, along with two vehicles. Nine people were named in the search warrant and based on the information received by Samoa News, all nine people mentioned in the search warrant were apprehended in three different locations and transported to the Police Central Station in Fagatogo for further investigation.

Drugs and drugs paraphernalia discovered during the raid were all seized and one vehicle was also impounded during the raid.

Over 10 police detectives and officers — some armed — raided the home in Pago Pago.

The home had been under police surveillance for months before the government petitioned the court for an order to search the residence for drugs, weapons and ammunition, and dug paraphernalia. The Court accepted the government’s request and signed an order to search the compound.

“We nailed baggies of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, and the suspects whose names were on the search warrant were not all found in the family home we raided," said a police officer who is not authorized to talk to the media.

"These people have been under surveillance for a long time. This drug raid is one of many the police have coming up in efforts to eliminate drugs in the territory.

"The controlled buys we have been conducting show the supply of meth on the island is a lot. Buying a baggie now costs between $20-$25 dollars, which was $50 before. This is evident that the quantity of meth on the island is significant and we are doing everything we can on our end.

"However these efforts should be a collective one, from the churches to the village chiefs in families, they should enforce the ban of illegal activities in their villages.

“A great example is what Samoa Chiefs are doing, leveling fines and sanctions in the village against families of drug defendants, this is one way to deter our people," said the police officer.

The main person of interest was the owner of the residence, who was arrested there along with three other men, all mentioned in the search warrant.

One group of detectives continued the search of the residence while another group fanned out in Pago Pago looking for other people mentioned in the warrant.

Shortly after detectives searched the residence in Pago Pago, three other men, also named in the search warrant were apprehended from another home on the other side of Pago Pago village.

Drugs and drug paraphernlia were found in the three men’s possession and they were transported to the police station for questioning.

The last two men mentioned in the search warrant were arrested in front of an Asian store in Pago Pago when detectives pulled over their vehicle and arrested them. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle and in the men’s possession.

All nine men arrested are scheduled to appear in Court this morning for their initial appearance and each of them will face criminal charges of unlawful possession of illegal drugs.

Based on the evidence found at the scene, the quantity of drugs and drug paraphernalia discovered was for distribution.

The white crystalline substance found at the scene was tested and yielded positive results for meth.

Deputy Foifua confirmed the raid and said that drugs and drug paraphernalia were found after detectives executed the search warrant.

He said DPS will continue to fight this battle against illegal drugs in the territory and will make sure everyone involved will be prosecuted according to the law.