Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 21, 2024, a traffic stop resulted in the arrest of two individuals who were allegedly in possession of drugs — meth and marijuana.

The suspects were both arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years, a fine of not less than $5,000, and not more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years, a fine of not less than $5,000, and not more than $20,000, or both.

Each defendants’ bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on May 21st, at about 4:40 a.m., police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on the Malaeimi highway which they claim was traveling at a high rate of speed. They pulled the vehicle over and discovered that it was driven by an individual identified as Linda Marble (suspect #1), with Fogavini Ese (suspect #2) as a passenger.

While the police officers were pulling the vehicle to the side, they observed the passenger (suspect 2), throwing an object outside of the vehicle. One of the officers went and checked what was thrown out and alllegedly discovered that it was a clear glass pipe with crystalline substance inside.

During the traffic stop, officers discovered that Marble did not have a driver’s license. As a result, the vehicle was impounded to the Tafuna Police Substation. Officers informed Marble that they would be carrying out an inventory of the properties in the vehicle.

The inventory search allegedly yielded a half smoked rolled cigarette joint with green leafy substance on the floor of the driver’s side, and a bag that Marble claimed was hers.

Inside the bag was a cigarette rolled joint with green leafy substance inside and a clear glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance.

There was also a bag that was carried by Ese, the passenger, which contained a half smoked cigarette rolled joint with a leafy substance.

The officers notified the Vice and Narcotic Unit for assistance in testing the items recovered from Marble’s vehicle and from the site of the vehicle stop.The white crystalline substance found during the inventory and at the site of the vehicle was tested using a field test kit and it was confirmed to be meth. Also tested was the green leafy substance found in both Marble and Ese’s bags using the Duquenois Levine Test Kit and was confirmed to contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

All evidence found and recovered was transferred to the evidence custodian.

Both suspects were Mirandized.

Marble indicated that she wanted to make a statement. According to Marble, she gave Ese a ride. She stated she does not smoke meth but that she smokes marijuana. She further stated that the pipe is not hers and that it belonged to her friend. She claimed that she was just holding on to it for her friend. She further stated that she saw Ese throw out a glass pipe when they were pulled over.

Ese also indicated that he wanted to make a statement. According to Ese, when they were getting pulled over, he got scared, panicked and threw out the glass pipe. He explained that he did not want to go to jail, which is why he threw the pipe out. He further admitted to owning the pipe and the half smoked joint.

Marble and Ese were both booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48-hour confinement until their initial appearance at the District Court.

The defendants are identified as Linda Marble, a 24-year-old U.S National and Fogavini Ese, a 40-year-old citizen of Samoa.