Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a car in which police allegedly found a black bag containing a white crystalline substance, marijuana joints, and drug paraphernalia has been arrested and charged.

Filipo Sefo, a.k.a “Philip”, 42, of Petesa, made his initial appearance in District Court earlier this month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana — both felonies, carrying a jail term of  5-10 years, a fine of $5,000-$20,000 or both for each count.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE ALLEGATION

Sefo and another man, whose identity Samoa News is withholding until he is formally charged, were in a car that was pulled over by police in Happy Valley for speeding on June 2, 2020. Sefo was the driver.

When asked for identification, Sefo presented a driver’s license and an immigration ID — both of which had expired last year.

The cop, who was speaking to Sefo, said he noticed Sefo using his left foot to push something under his seat and when Sefo moved his foot, he saw a small baggie containing a white substance.

Officers instructed Sefo and the passenger to exit the vehicle and they were taken in for questioning while the vehicle was impounded.

At the police station, the two cops, who escorted Sefo, said one stamp-sized baggie containing a white crystalline substance fell out when Sefo exited the police unit. One officer asked Sefo about the baggie and he responded, “I have no idea. That does not belong to me.”

When police checked where Sefo was seated, they found one stamp-sized baggie containing a white crystalline substance. During a body search, officers found a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance on Sefo.

An inventory of the Sefo’s vehicle netted a small bag in the back seat, containing one glass pipe with a white crystalline substance, and one stamp-sized baggie containing green leafy substance.

The white crystalline substance tested positive for meth, while the green leafy substance tested positive for marijuana.

In his statement to police, Sefo said he bought meth and marijuana from a man at Le Filifili. He said it was for the men building his house. Sefo allegedly told police he bought the drugs for personal use only, and not for resale.

When questioned by police, the passenger explained that he and Sefo are best friends, and they were on their way to their other friend’s home in the Tafuna area to pick up a bag of taro. The passenger said he didn’t know Sefo had drugs in the vehicle, but he heard from their other friend that Sefo has a drug problem but he had never actually seen him smoke any drugs or have it on him.

According to the passenger, Sefo never told him there were drugs in the vehicle, and he was surprised when police found them. The passenger was released after questioning.