Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man was arrested and charged for violating local drug laws after police allegedly discovered drugs in his possession during a traffic stop last year.

According to the government, Molesi Sene has been considered by police as a Person of Interest (POI) for many months, under the suspicion that he’s involved in the drug business. His vehicle was always seen at a house of another person who is also considered by police as a POI.

The government alleges that on Dec. 20th, 2020, patrolling police officers in the Tafuna area conducted a traffic stop on a black pickup truck for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Molesi Sene, the defendant in this matter. Sene, along with his wife and two men were inside the vehicle when police pulled it over.

According to the government, Sene’s vehicle was observed with no lights on the back license plate and was also speeding. Cops pulled over the vehicle, where upon they found the driver, Sene, had an expired driver’s license.

While traffic officers were speaking to Sene, the DPS Vice and Narcotics/ K9 Unit arrived at the scene and conducted a search around the vehicle for illegal drugs.

According to the government, investigators requested Sene for his consent to search his vehicle after K9 Caino showed interest in the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Sene denied their request but police then informed Sene that due to the fact he does not have a valid driver’s license they were impounding his vehicle and he would be transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation.

Sene was handcuffed and transported to the TPS, where police when removing Sene’s handcuffs observed that he was holding something in his hand; and when he opened his hand, police observed two glass pipes containing white crystalline substance.

The white crystalline substance was tested and the results were positive for methamphetamine.

Police conducted a body search on Sene and nothing was found. An inventory search was conducted on the vehicle and again, nothing was found.

When asked about the two glass pipes containing methamphetamine, Sene admitted to police that they belonged to him.

Police records show that Sene was also involved in another matter also involving drugs a few months back which police were still investigating at this time. For that reason, Sene was released to go home while police continued with their investigation on the issue.

Sene’s wife and two men who were inside the vehicle during the traffic stop were released at the scene before Sene was transported to the TPS along with his vehicle.

Sene was arrested by police last week pursuant to an arrest warrant from the court where he made his initial appearance before Acting Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea.

Sene is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, an unclassified felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, a fine up to $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.

Nothing was mentioned in the court affidavit about the other matter in which Sene was allegedly involved,