Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Filipo Shai and Fogavai Anetere’a are each being held on bail of $15,000 on drug charges. The men appeared in the District Court yesterday.

According to the government’s case, this past Sunday the Vice and Narcotics Division of the Department of Public Safety was called in after the defendants were caught with drugs and drug paraphernalia in their possession, following a vehicle pursuit in Ottoville.

The criminal complaints says police pulled over a truck with the license, however, when police asked for a drivers license, the driver moved to touch the glove compartment and then instead sped off.

There were four individuals in the vehicle including the driver. Police went after the truck and other police units assisted in the chase.

“The vehicle was observed entering into the back roads in the Ottoville area and came to a stop when it struck the side of a residential home.

“Police Officers who arrived on the scene observed three of the male individuals take off on foot from the vehicle.

“Fogavai who sat behind the front passenger was stuck inside the vehicle and police were able to apprehend him as he was trying to flee.

During a pat down of Fogavai before placing him inside the police car, officers discovered a small black pouch containing eight cut up straws — 4 clear cut up straws and 4 yellow cut up straws — all containing a crystalline substance, and two glass pipes that contained a crystalline substance, as well as $170.

The other officers managed to apprehend Filipo who was found with a single strap black hag that contained a small clear container with four stamp sized baggies containing a crystalline substance, a glass pipe that also contained a crystalline substance, a small torch and three lighters.

The government’s case claims that both the driver and the other passenger of the vehicle were nowhere to be found and their identities are unknown.

It was also discovered that the license plate used by the truck was registered at the OMV as an entirely different type and make of vehicle, and” from the village of Vailoatai.”

Upon arrival at the Tafuna Police Substation, police tested the crystalline substances found on both men. Results came back positive for methamphetamine.