Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Following a Senate committee hearing where the director was asked by Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean about why ASDHS agents are present at the Pago Pago International Airport, Local Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) director Samana Semo Ve’ave’a explained that ASDHS agents are “observing” the work carried out by Immigration officers and Customs agents and then a report is filed with “advice” to Customs and Immigration, as well as Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga on what they observed.

Tuaolo asked what course of action ASDHS agents take when and if they witness an incident at the airport. “Do you contact the police commissioner” and Dept. of Public Safety who have the authority to carry out an arrest? Tuaolo asked.

Samana acknowledged that ASDHS doesn’t have arrest authority and it's Customs that contacts police. For example, if drugs are discovered, Customs contacts DPS to carry out the investigation, he said.

“Our only duty is… observer” and then provide reports to the governor, Customs and Immigration, Samana said.

Tuaolo suggested for Samana to take up at cabinet meetings, the “need” for collaborative work between ASDHS, police, and Customs. He said there’s too many illegal weapons and drugs that have entered the territory, which has only two ports of entry — the Port of Pago Pago and the Pago Pago International Airport.

He said what’s happening now is, police — with arrest authority — are not allowed into the Customs area at the airport.

Tuaolo stressed the importance of improved border security and suggested federal funds for this purpose. He said he remains concerned with using local funds (through the ASG bonds) to purchase scanner units for the airport and port, which is something he says ASDHS could have pushed for, under federal funding for the “security of this US territory.”

In his 2019 State of the Territory Comprehensive Report to the Fono and the US Department of Interior, the governor said the Customs scanning units — since inception — have proven successful in deterring illegal drugs, contraband, and undeclared merchandise from entering the territory.

“Collective border security units provide a united front in securing our borders,” he said. “As a result, in 2017- 2018, a total of 30 cases involving undeclared merchandise, to contraband such as illegal drugs, weapons and ammunition” were intercepted from entering our borders.