Grenades container returned to Apia
Apia, SAMOA — The container of personal effects where grenades were found in a Salelologa freight company compound, is shipped back to Apia today for a thorough inspection by Customs.
Newsline Samoa can also confirm from top Government officials that a box of grenades was found during a routine customs inspection of the container.
“There were about 10 explosives found by customs officials in the consignment of personal effects that were shipped from the United States to Samoa,” a top senior official revealed.
“The personal effects belonged to a woman who was moving back to Samoa from the US, after her husband who was in the US military died.”
Newsline Samoa has discovered also that the wife has since come under investigation by the police.
The container was shipped through the Pacific Forum Line as the freight forwarding company in Samoa and was forwarded directly to a freight agent in Savai’i.
Customs officers were sent over for a routine inspection of the container and stumbled onto the grenades.
The discovery was quickly referred to the police.
The police quickly sealed off the Salelologa freight company’s compound where the container was placed.
Selected sections of the road leading into the busy area out to the wharf and the market were closed off.
Police advised the travelling public that the road had to be closed off because of a ‘grenade threat’ to general safety.
The ‘access road in front of the Bluebird Mall and LTA’ was blocked to the travelling public from Fa’asaleleaga, Itu o Tane and Itu o Salega.
A safe alternative route into the Salelologa market and wharf was advised through the ‘Apia Lua Gas Station’ yesterday.
The police presence and security measures put in place sent shockwaves around Savai’i and eventually reached Apia.
Wild speculations exploded on the big island at the contents of the container and those behind the consignment when the public became aware.
Why anyone would send grenades to Savai’i fired up frenzied reactions and sinister allegations on the social media.
A full review by Customs of the whole sequence of events, is scheduled for tomorrow in time to brief Cabinet of the results, in their usual Wednesday Cabinet meeting.