Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 2, 2024, a traffic violation resulted in an arrest of a male individual who allegedly was in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine (meth) and marijuana.

The defendant was arrested and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Methamphetamine) — a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $20,000, or both;

Count 2: : Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) — a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $20,000, or both;

Count 3: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance With Intent to Distribute (Marijuana) — a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $20,000, or both; and,

Count 4: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana) — a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $20,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $20,000.

According to the affidavit, on March 2, 2024 at about 9:00 p.m, a suspect who was later identified as Filisi Filisi was pulled over by police officers for allegedly overtaking a vehicle in Satala — a double solid line was visible on the road.

The officers asked the defendant to furnish his driver’s license, which the defendant said that “he forgot it at home”. The defendant was then told that he will be taken into the FPS and the vehicle will be impounded there as well. The defendant was placed inside his vehicle on the passenger side while an officer drove the vehicle to the FPS.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the defendant was made aware that there will be an inventory of properties inside of the vehicle.

During the inventory of the vehicle, police officers opened the passenger side of the vehicle and observed a medium size Ziploc baggie with crystalline substance inside, and an Army camouflage bag on the passenger seat.

Also found by officers on the rear passenger seat were pipes that are commonly used to smoke meth and one cut-up straw containing a crystalline substance. Three more cut-up straws containing a crystalline substance were also found under the driver’s seat.

Cash was also found in the vehicle — two hundred and ninety-six dollars. The defendant requested if the money could be released to his cousin and it was released to the family member the same night.

The police Captain was then notified of what was found inside the vehicle.

A police officer along with the police Captain responded, and upon arrival the captain was handed the finding and the army camouflage bag. The Police Captain then tested the crystalline substance with a field test kit and it tested positive for methamphetamine (meth).

The army camouflage bag was then searched and six medium baggies with green leafy substance were found along with a blue glass pipe that is commonly used to smoke marijuana. The substance was tested by the Police Captain using the Duquenois field test kit and the result was positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

The defendant was then Mirandized and he waived his rights. Filisi agreed to make a statement and to answer questions.

According to the defendant’s verbal statement, everything that was found inside the vehicle belonged to him. Moreover, he stated that he was on his way to sell his stuff and was surprised when the cops pulled him over and he panicked. The defendant also admitted that he smokes marijuana cigarettes, and weed using the marijuana pipe that was found inside his army camouflage bag.