Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 27, 2024, a traffic stop resulted in the arrest of male individual who was allegedly in possession of drugs.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 10 years, a fine of not less than $5,000.00, and not more than $20,000, or both.

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

According to the affidavit, on or about April 27th, a police detective received a call from a traffic officer claiming that a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance was found during their inventory of a vehicle.

The vehicle was stopped on the highway for swerving, and it was impounded because the driver did not have a driver’s license. According to the traffic officer, when she opened the rear right side door vehicle, an individual by the name of Tiikeri Fanene was sitting inside with a black pouch. The officer asked Fanene what was in the pouch and Fanene responded that it was a “gun”.

The officer followed up as to what the suspect meant by “gun” and the suspect stated that it was a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine (meth).

The officer asked permission to open the pouch and the suspect responded “yes”. The officer opened the pouch and observed a clear glass pipe with what appeared to be a clear crystalline substance inside.

The substance found in the glass pipe was tested by a police captain and also a detective with the Vice and Narcotics Unit, using a field test kit and it was confirmed that it was meth.

The suspect was Mirandized and he indicated that he wished to make a verbal statement.

The suspect admitted that he owned the glass pipe and that he uses it to help with his chores around the house.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 25-year-old male from Malaeimi.