A man accused of possession of illegal drugs as well as possession of unregistered guns — a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22-caliber rifle — has had his bail set at $60,000.

According to the criminal complaint, Tautua Letasi is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute — both felonies. Each count is punishable by not more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.

Letasi is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of two unlicensed firearms. Each count is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant made his initial appearance in District Court late last week and another court hearing is set for later next week. Samoa News wasn’t able to confirm yesterday if he has been able to make bail.

Charges against Letasi stem from a traffic stop during the early morning hours of May 21st, when police officers allegedly confiscated from the defendant’s vehicle a weapon (12-gauge shotgun), narcotics and ammunition, according to court documents, which also states that the defendant’s car was allegedly traveling at an “unknown high rate of speed” and it was the reason why it was stopped by police.

Court documents revealed that Letasi’s driver’s license expired three years ago. Police were able to get this information from the dispatcher, who was called during the traffic stop because the defendant had no form of identification on him.

Following the traffic stop, police escorted the defendant along with his vehicle to the Tafuna police substation, where one of the officers inspected the rear of the vehicle and allegedly saw “a barrel of what appeared to be a rifle.”

Police asked defendant about the object and the defendant allegedly responded that, “it was a gun that he was going to fix”, court documents say and noted that the “12 gauge rifle that was recovered from the vehicle was revealed to be loaded and was later seized.”

A further search of the vehicle, allegedly “discovered a camouflage Army backpack on the rear seat of the vehicle containing what appeared to be baggies of crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine and green leafy substance believe to be marijuana.”

The police then searched the backpack, in the presence of the defendant, where police allegedly observed what appeared to be baggies of crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine and baggies with green leafy substance.

Also allegedly discovered by police were three medium sized ziploc plastic bags containing crystalline substances, one sandwich sized ziploc plastic bag containing crystalline, two stamp sized ziploc bags containing crystalline substance, three small sized plastic ziploc bags containing green leafy substances believed to be marijuana, one hand rolled joint, and numerous paraphernalia such as a digital scale, and numerous empty baggies commonly used for packaging and distribution of meth.

Also allegedly discovered inside the backpack was cash totaling $1,658.

In addition, police allegedly discovered five live 12-gauge Winchester ammunitions, three 12-gauge Remington live ammunitions and four 9-millimeter live ammunitions.

During a vehicle inventory, in the presence of the defendant, police allegedly discovered a hand-rolled joint believed to be marijuana, and empty baggies, commonly used to package meth, the government alleges in court filings.

The defendant was then formally warned of his Constitutional Rights using an official Warning of Rights form. During the explanation by police of the Waiver paragraph on the Form, it’s alleged that the defendant kept uttering to police that “I don’t know what time my guy put the bag in the car.”

Police also interviewed the defendant’s spouse at the couple’s home, who alleges that the backpack belongs to the husband and that the husband would bring the bag home with him sometimes.

Furthermore, the spouse alleges that she “doesn’t know who owns the stuff that her husband was selling.” When asked by police about any other illegal substances or illegal firearms, she allegedly told police there is another rifle in their bedroom.

Police allegedly discover, during the search of the couple’s home, a 22-caliber rifle 9 Marline and numerous paraphernalia, such as Digital scale, stamp size baggies, and three glass tubes commonly use to smoke Meth.

A record check at DPS record office, carried out on May 22, disclosed that the defendant’s name was not on any file for weapon registration.