Apia, SAMOA — The Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections has suspended four police officers from the Criminal Investigation Unit pending investigations for their alleged involvement with the use of drugs, the Samoa Observer reported this week.

"I confirm that the four officers are suspended due to allegations against them while the others were still working," Deputy Commissioner, Papālii Monalisa Tia’i -Keti told the Observer. "They're not suspended indefinitely. This has always been the case or is the process, that when someone within the ministry is under investigation, they have to be suspended because they might influence the investigation.

“We are also considering pursuing disciplinary and criminal action against the officers once the inquiry reaches its conclusion.”

The Observer credited Papalii with saying, the investigation was prompted by one of the officers who stepped forward and revealed the alleged involvement of these four constables in using drugs.

It is believed that the drug in question is methamphetamine, however, police have not confirmed this.

The level of police involvement in narcotics is emerging as a serious concern as the Samoa Police Professional Standard Unit deepens its probe into what began with 20 cops allegedly involved in drugs in the previous years, the Observer reported.

The Deputy Commissioner stressed that such behavior is not tolerated by the Samoa Police and every police officer is required to follow the law as well.