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18-year-old female facing serious drug charges

There was a heavy presence of Detectives at the District Court yesterday morning for security purposes following the arrest of drug defendant Elsarina Lefatia over the weekend. Lefatia has been charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a felony that is punishable by up to 20 years, and/or a fine of up to $20,000. Lefatia, who is 18 years old, made her initial appearance in the District Court yesterday morning after spending the weekend in jail.

 

According to the government’s case, on October 25, 2014 during the wee hours of the night, police officers at the West Substation were walking to the police unit when they saw an unknown black truck without a license plate parked in the south bound lane in front of the stop sign near the police station.

 

One officer told Detective Ioane Paselio (the lead investigator) that a female had exited the black truck and yelled at another unknown female that she wanted to pee. It’s alleged that the female pulled down her pants and urinated on the public highway.

 

The officer called out to the unknown female, who got into the car and drove off. Police then pursued the car and tried to stop it utilizing police lights, but the black truck continued to speed off.

 

The officers followed this vehicle all the way down to Futiga, where it turned into the “Le Aute” billiard hall area. Due to safety reasons the officers did not pursue the vehicle. Another police officer identified that the truck in question carried the license plate 1808.

 

Court filings say that later on the same day, police came across the black truck that matched the description and observed that there was no license plate at the rear end, so they pulled the vehicle over. During the traffic stop it was determined that this was the same truck that had been involved in the earlier pursuit.

 

The officer made contact with the driver, Lefatia, and saw an open beer can in the cup holder on the driver’s side. Police asked Lefatia about the earlier incident, however she said that she was unaware of it.

 

The defendant was informed that she was suspected of under-age drinking because of the open beer can inside the vehicle, and she was told that the vehicle would be impounded and held at the police station for further investigation into the incident that occurred earlier.

 

Upon arrival at the police station the police began processing Lefatia for possession of an open container of alcohol while being 18 years of age, and she was taken into the conference room for booking.

 

It’s alleged that during the inventory of Lefatia’s bag which she brought with her, police discovered a large amount of cash — approximately $4,900 USD — along with 51 cut up straws sealed on both ends commonly used to package and sell methamphetamine, 23 glass pipes commonly use to smoke “ice” that were wrapped in white tissue, and one cut up straw containing a crystalline substance.

 

The substance was tested with a Reagent Field Test and it was positively identified as “meth” or “ice”. Court filings say that, Lefatia explained that the money found in her possession was from their business, Le Aute, from the alcoholic beverages they sell and from people playing pool.

 

It is also alleged that she told the police that she sells the glass pipes for $5 each and the ice that was in the bag was to be sold for $10 each.