Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two men who were passengers in a taxi are now in the custody of police in relation to drug charges.

John Jr and Kelekolio Smith made their initial appearances in the District Court last month.

Kelekolio is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana while John Jr is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth).

Each man is being each held on bail of $5,000.

THE CASE

In May, this year police conducted a traffic stop in Malaeimi when a taxi heading east was stopped due to the curfew put in place by the government due to the Covid-19 restrictions, whereby no private cars were allowed on the road, except for medical emergencies only.

There were four people in the taxi including the driver. The men were told to step out of the vehicle after police were told by the passengers they had just returned from a party.

According to court filings, the officers informed them that they were in violation of the curfew.

 The passengers were searched for weapons and contraband before being put into the police unit. During the search, officers found a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance on Kelekolio and found three hand-rolled cigarettes with the green leafy substance on John Jr.

Court filings say that the defendants allegedly admitted the drugs belong to them.

The third passenger was released by police on the night in question.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING HIS WIFE

A 45-year-old man from Vaitogi was arrested two weeks ago on allegations that he assaulted his wife.

The defendant suspected his wife was having an extramarital affair with his neighbor. According to court filings, the defendant assaulted his wife.

The matter was reported to police by a neighbor who heard the woman’s screams for help. The wife managed to escape from her house and she ran to the neighbor's home just as a police unit arrived. She told police her husband choked her after he repeatedly punched her face.

The defendant was released on his own recognizance with certain conditions that include staying away from his wife and his children, and finding somewhere else to stay.

To protect the identity of the wife, Samoa News has opted not to name the defendant.

His next court appearance is Nov. 20th.