Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 23, 2024, the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) received a call for assistance from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding an alleged drug case.

A suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years, nor more than 10 years, or both.

Bail of $5,000 was set.

According to the affidavit, on September 23rd, at approximately 10:33 p.m., FPS relayed a call from the TPS requesting Vice & Narcotics assistance on a case that possibly involved drugs.

Upon arrival at the TPS, one of the police officers met with a police captain who transferred over to the Vice & Narcotics what appeared to be a glass pipe that’s commonly used to smoke methamphetamine (meth) containing crystalline substances.

Police officers were also interviewed regarding this case and according to one of them, they were patrolling in Iliili heading westbound when they observed a white vehicle heading eastbound and swerving to the westbound.

As a result, they conducted a traffic stop in front of a store in Iliili. When they pulled up behind the vehicle, they observed a male individual, later identified as Alefosio Lauvele, exit the vehicle and walk into the store. A minute later, Lauvele (suspect) walked out of the store where one of the officers stopped him momentarily and explained to him the reason for the stop. At the same time, a female customer from inside the store called out to the officer for assistance.

When the officer entered the store, a male customer informed him that he saw and witnessed the suspect shove something inside the box of gift wraps. Another customer also called out to the officer to confirm what the male customer had stated to the officer.

Police officers then discovered and retrieved what appeared to be a glass pipe containing crystalline substances wrapped in a white napkin from the box of gift wraps inside the store.

It was also revealed that the suspect did not have any form of identification on him to verify who he is. The suspect was detained and transported to the TPS for further investigation and the vehicle was also impounded.

Footage from the store was later obtained and it showed the defendant entering the store at about 10:22 p.m. and shoving an unidentified object inside a box of gift wraps that was located on the opposite side of the cash register counter.

The suspect then exited the store and a minute later an officer entered the store and met with the eye-witnesses who informed the officers regarding the item shoved by the suspect in the box. Footage also showed the officers retrieving the glass pipe containing crystalline substances wrapped in a white napkin inside the box of gift wraps.

The crystalline substances from the glass pipe were tested using the Methamphetamine Field Test Kit and revealed positive results for meth.

On the same day, the suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for a 48-hour confinement to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 47-year-old U.S National.