Samoa police arrested a passenger on the inter island ferry Lady Naomi when it returned from American Samoa last Friday night.
Samoa Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil confirmed to Talamua Media that a male passenger was arrested when he was found with tools commonly used for smoking crack cocaine or crystal methamphetamine.
According to the commissioner, there’s a whole lot more that police do not know about and investigations are continuing.
The man is charged with possession of illegal equipment under the Narcotics Act and he is currently under police custody awaiting an initial court appearance.
The Commissioner told Talamua Media his office is communicating with American Samoa about setting up a transnational crime unit in Pago Pago.
21 countries that make up the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) have been trying to get American Samoa as a member, and according to Fuiavailili American Samoa has finally come on board.
The Samoa police commissioner says illegal substance is entering Samoa from American Samoa and vice versa, but with the establishment of the transnational crime unit in American Samoa, there will be a better network of communication between the two islands.”