Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 24, 2024, Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) requested assistance from the Vice & Narcotics Division regarding drugs that were allegedly discovered during a traffic stop.

The driver, Kolby Felua’i was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances (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; and,

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances (Marijuana), 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.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on September 24th, FPS requested assistance from the Vice & Narcotics Division when a traffic officer allegedly discovered a black pouch that held a glass pipe with crystalline substances during an inventory of a vehicle that was impounded.

Upon arrival at the station, a Vice & Narcotics officer met with the traffic officer where he transferred over the items seized when a vehicle was impounded.

Items included a small pouch that held a glass pipe containing crystalline substance; a glass jar containing empty ziploc baggies, a small black digital scale containing a green leafy residue and an orange backpack that contained a small grinder (commonly used to grind marijuana) that also contained a green leafy residue and tools inside.

According to the traffic officer who conducted the inventory of the pick up truck, he and his partner were patrolling in Fagaalu, heading eastbound, when they spotted the said vehicle with displayed colored lights on the rims.

They conducted a traffic stop across from Matafao Elementary School and made contact with the driver. The officer reported that they observed two males in the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Kolby Feluiai (hereinafter the defendant) was informed of the reason for the stop and was asked for his driver’s license, whereas the defendant handed the officer his government ID.

The defendant was then informed that the vehicle was to be impounded and an investigation was to be continued at the station.

It was later revealed that the defendant was not the owner of the vehicle and the owner would be contacted to pick up his vehicle and show proof of a driver’s license.

The traffic officer with the defendant present conducted an inventory of the properties inside the vehicle, where drug paraphernalia was found.

A police captain tested the crystalline substances from the glass pipe using the Methamphetamine Field Test Kit and it revealed positive results for Methamphetamine. The green leafy substances from the grinder and digital scale were also tested using the Duquenois Levine Test Kit and it revealed positive results for THC/an active ingredient in marijuana.

The male passenger was also interviewed and identified.

According to the passenger, he was walking by the road in Aua to look for a ride to go to his girlfriend’s house. He came upon the defendant fixing the lights on his car near his house. He asked the defendant for a ride and the defendant agreed.

The passenger further explained that when they reached Utulei Beach, the defendant turned into the parking lot in front of the beach and met with an individual. He said, the individual drove a white truck and they did a drug transaction. He stated that he saw the defendant give an unidentified male a clear baggie that contained four marijuana cigarettes/ joints.

After the drug transaction, they made their way back onto the main highway continuing westbound. The passenger continued that when they were approaching the Matafao Elementary School, they saw the police unit turn around. The passenger also claimed that he knew the police were coming after their vehicle because of the lights on the defendant’s tires.

Once they were pulled over by police, the defendant handed him the orange bag and told him to hide it under his legs. He (the passenger) also said that he noticed a black pouch inside the defendant’s vehicle in the front of the cupholder during the drive but had no knowledge of what was inside.

At around 12:17 a.m., Feluiai was Mirandized and waived his rights. He agreed to make a statement regarding the said matter.

The defendant was asked about the glass pipe discovered inside his vehicle and he first stated that he found it on the side of the road. The second time, he stated he was breaking up a fight when he came upon it on the ground and picked it up and put it inside his vehicle.

When asked about the digital scale and the green leafy residue on the scale, the defendant also stated he found it on the side of the road. When asked about the glass jar with the empty clear baggies, he said the baggies were for his daughter’s goodies.

And, when asked about the small marijuana grinder inside the backpack, the defendant did not say anything.

Feluiai also denied making any drug transaction. As the defendant was escorted out of the TPS, he turned around and called the passenger a “bitch”.

Kolby Feliua’i was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours confinement awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 24 year-old U.S. National.