Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The driver of a pick-up truck that was pulled over by police last month for a traffic violation is facing drug charges, after police allegedly found a plastic container inside the vehicle containing small baggies of a white crystalline substance, along with drug paraphernalia.

Mark Vaela’a made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

Bail for the defendant has been set at $10,000.

Vaela’a, 40, from Pava’ia’i is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) with the intent to distribute, a felony punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine up to $20K or both; and unlawful possession of meth, a class D felony punishable by up to 5 years in jail, a fine up to $5K or both.

It was revealed during the initial appearance hearing that the defendant’s immigration status is valid.

THE CASE

A pick-up truck with no license plate light was stopped by a cop on the night of June 10 at around 10:23 p.m on the Iliili road. The vehicle was also speeding.

Vaela’a and two others were inside the vehicle. The two individuals was identified in court documents as Daniel Lokeni and Theresa Mapu, a female.

The officer who made the initial stop informed Vaela’a about why he was pulled over. He then requested a driver’s license and Vaela’a complied.

The cop accessed the lights for the rear license plate and discovered that the sticker on the plate did not match the license plate number. The DPS Central Station dispatcher was contacted for the registration and ownership status of the vehicle.

According to the info provided to the cop, the license plate on the vehicle expired over two years ago — April 2019. Vaela’a was cited and informed that his vehicle was going to be impounded at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), because of the expired plate and tags belonging to another vehicle.

Vaela’a looked nervous and asked the officer to help him out and he would take care of him on the following day. The officer informed Vaela’a that they need to go to the TPS first before they discuss his request later.

At the TPS, police informed Vaela’a that he had to be present during the inventory search of the truck. Cops then proceeded, and discovered a medium white plastic container under the passenger seat, where Lokeni had been sitting when the truck was pulled over.

Vaela’a was shown the medium plastic container and asked who it belonged to and he said it was Lokeni’s. The officer asked Vaela’a twice to reconfirm his answer and his response was, “The medium plastic container belongs to my friend Lokeni.”

Officers opened the plastic container and discovered 3 small stamp sized baggie containing white crystalline substances inside; one small stamp sized baggie containing green leafy substances, and several empty small stamp sized baggies commonly used to sell meth.

When Vaela’a was asked about the white substances and green leafy substances found inside the container, Vaela’a said it was “ice” (meth) and marijuana, all belonging to his friend Lokeni.

Again, Vaela’a looked uncomfortable throughout the whole process. He kept reaching inside his rear pocket while looking around to see if any of the officers were watching him.

During a body search of Vaela’a, a small stamp-sized baggie containing a white crystalline substance fell from his pants pocket. The officer also discovered a hand rolled marijuana cigarette inside the same pocket. When asked about the baggie, Vaela’a smiled and shrugged his shoulders. He then shook his head side to side without saying a word.

When interviewed by police, Lokeni said Vaela’a asked him to hide the medium plastic container under his seat when they were stopped by police. Lokeni claimed he knew nothing about the plastic container because he didn’t have a plastic container with him when he was picked up by Vaela’a.

Detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Unit conducted a second inventory of the truck in the presence of Vaela’a. A glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, along with 10 empty small baggies commonly used to sell meth were discovered behind the back seat where the female passenger was sitting.

The female passenger was released to go home after she was interviewed, pending further investigation. She offered some information that helped with the investigation regarding this matter.

After he was Mirandized, Vaela’a refused to make a statement. He informed investigators that he wanted to speak to his attorney.

The white crystalline substance found in the glass pipe, as well as in the small baggies from the black bag and from Vaela’a’s pocket, all tested positive for meth. The green leafy substances also found inside the container and in Vaela’a’s pocket, tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.