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Glass pipe found during PPD leads to drug arrest

Meth pipe on mirror.
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 32-year-old man accused of possessing a glass pipe containing white crystalline substance was arrested and charged for violating local drug laws.

Sam Faitele made his initial appearance in court three weeks ago. He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine, a felony, punishable by imprisonment from 5- 10 years, a $5,000 fine up to $20,000.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

On Mar. 23, 2021, the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit received information from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a glass pipe containing white crystalline substance found on an individual, who was allegedly involved in a public peace disturbance case they were investigating.

The two individuals involved in this matter including the defendant, Faitele and his girlfriend were transported to the TPS for further investigation. At the TPS, officers were suspicious of the defendant girlfriend’s movements and after a pat down, she was asked for consent to officer looking through her bag — and she gave her consent.

During the search, police discovered a glass pipe containing white crystalline substance and immediately confiscated it. Officers also found a small stamp-sized baggie containing white crystalline substance. The white crystalline substance was tested and yielded positive for methamphetamine.

After she was Mirandized, the girlfriend made a statement to police. She stated to police that the glass pipe and the plastic baggie found inside her bag belonged to her boyfriend, Faitele, and that she had refused to put ‘his stuff’ inside her bag, and she was not aware that her boyfriend had put the glass pipe in her bag.

Vaitele was questioned by the police regarding the glass pipe and the plastic baggie, and he admitted to owning the stuff found by police inside his girlfriend’s bag, and that he had placed it inside his girlfriend’s bag and she didn’t know about it.

When asked where he had gotten the glass pipe, Faitele stated that he got the stuff from an old friend who always give him drugs for his own personal use.

Faitele was later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was booked and confined. His girlfriend was released.