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Armed police officers raid compound during major drug bust in Aua

Armed police officers
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A huge quantity of methamphetamine (meth) along with drug paraphernalia was discovered when armed DPS Vice and Narcotics officers executed a search warrant at the Aua home of a former police officer early yesterday morning.

No weapons were found during the raid.

Five people (including the former police officer and owner of the house) were arrested at the scene and later taken into custody for further investigation. Three of them will face criminal charges and will appear in District Court later this week for their initial appearances. The investigation will continue for the other two individuals who are still in police custody as of press time.

It was early Tuesday morning when a group of over 10 police detectives and police officers — some armed — raided the home of a former police officer in Aua pursuant to an order of the Court.

The home had been under police surveillance for months before the government petitioned the court for an order to search the residence for drugs, weapons, ammunition and drug paraphernalia. The Court accepted the government’s request and signed an order to search the compound.

The search warrant was for the home of a former police officer, who was the main target, along with three other people also named in the search warrant. The search warrant was to search the compound and vehicle of the main target.

The search warrant was executed and all four people named in the warrant were apprehended at the scene and transported to the Fagatogo Police Station for questioning. A fifth person, who was not named in the search warrant was also arrested and taken into custody for further investigation.

A man was taken into police custody when armed detectives of the DPS Vice and Narcotics Unit raided a home in Aua early yesterday morning pursuant to a search warrant issued by the court. [photo by AF]

The compound was protected by surveillance cameras, so detectives and police officers approached the home from the mountain side in an effort to avoid being detected by the surveillance cameras.

All evidence discovered at the scene was confiscated and transported to the Central Police office in Fagatogo for review. Based on the evidence found at the scene, the quantity of drugs and drug paraphernalia discovered was for distribution.

The white crystalline substance found at the scene was tested and yielded positive results for meth.

The officer in charge of the raid told Samoa News that DPS would not release the names of people taken into custody until they are officially charged and appear in court later on this week.

Police Commission Lefiti Falelaulii Pese is off-island and was not available for comment at press time, however, a senior police official confirmed that a search warrant had been issued for the drug bust carried out in Aua yesterday morning and that drugs were found during the raid. The official also confirmed that at least five people were taken into custody for questioning.