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Man already on probation for burglary and stealing now faces drug charges

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who is on probation for stealing and burglary was arrested again on the allegation he violated local drug laws.

Victor Seulu was a passenger in a red pick-up truck that was pulled over by police two month ago in Leone where a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance and a baggie containing a green leafy substance were found inside his pants pocket.

The government claims that on the early morning of Mar. 22, 2022 around 5:45a.m, two police officers patrolling the area observed the truck with an expired tag on the rear license plate.

Police officers immediately pulled the vehicle over with two male individuals inside. Seulu, the defendant, was a passenger.

The driver of the vehicle, Tei Willie, the owner of the vehicle, provided his valid immigration I.D and driver’s license to officers. The vehicle registration had expired in October 2021. Willie received traffic citations from the officers for violating traffic laws.

While officers were speaking to the driver, the defendant, Seulu, opened the passenger’s door and exited the vehicle. He was instructed by an officer to get back inside the vehicle; however, Seulu continued to stand outside of the vehicle ignoring the officer’s request.

While Seulu was walking around at the back of the vehicle, he tried to reach inside the left pocket of his pants, including trying to avoid the officer who walked over to him.

Officers instructed Seulu to remove his hands from his pocket, but Seulu did not comply. Officers immediately arrested and placed him inside the police unit.

A body search was conducted on Seulu where officers discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance inside that tested positive for meth. Officers also found a small stamp-sized baggie containing green leafy substance during the body-search. The green leafy substance was tested and was positive for THC, an active compound in marijuana.

The defendant told officers the reason he smoked meth is to give him strength while performing his work at his plantation. Marijuana is for his friend.

The driver of the vehicle was also interviewed by police and told officers that Seulu flagged him down for a ride and asked him to drop him at his friend’s in Leone.

According to the driver’s statement, they were on their way to drop Seulu at his friend’s house when officers pulled over his vehicle for an expired tag.

Seulu made his initial appearance in court. He’s charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by term of imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, a fine not more than $20,000, or both.

Bail is set at $5,000.