Ads by Google Ads by Google

Number of ASG employees testing positive for drugs increases

Dr. Saleapaga Iotamo
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “A lot of government employees undergoing drug testing are testing positive with methamphetamine and the number is increasing every year.”

This was the statement by LBJ Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Iotamo Saleapaga during a House Public Safety Committee hearing this week.

The hearing, chaired by Faipule Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava was called to discuss a House bill to penalize drivers who refuse to take the DUI test, which would include implied consent for drugs as well as alcohol, along with other issues including the drug testing of ASG employees, and the increased number of people arrested and charged with violating local drug laws.

In discussing the issue of drug testing, Dr. Saleapaga told the committee that since drug testing for ASG employees started, there have been a lot of employees who have tested positive for methamphetamine (meth). The drug test is conducted at the LBJ Lab.

Police commissioner Lefiti Aitulagi Pese added to Dr. Saleapaga’s statement and informed the committee that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is also working on the issue of people testing positive for illegal drugs — to make sure they’re no longer serving in the police department.

Vice Speaker of the House, Fetui Fetu Jr praised Lefiti for leading the way. He said illegal drugs are a serious problem in the territory and the Fono has received complaints about cops being involved.

“The Fono has been hearing complaints about police officers being involved in drugs and it’s not good for cops enforcing the law if there are doubts in the community about the integrity of police,” Fetui said.

He also stated that Fono leaders, along with members of the community are eager to know what happened to police investigations into some of the cases where drugs were allegedly smuggled into the territory.

He mentioned the 2018 case where drugs were discovered in the LBJ mail and the latest incident where an employee at LBJ was allegedly involved in another mail incident involving drugs.

Fetui told the hearing that Samoa police are also facing the same problem where over 20 cops were allegedly involved in drugs and police are still investigating the matter.

As for the issue where three local police officers tested positive for illegal drugs during a drug test, Fetui told the Police Commissioner that there is an assumption that there are more cops involved in drugs who are still serving in the force. He urged Lefiti to take a close look at his people and to make sure they face the consequences for their actions.