Commissioner of Public Safety Save Liuato Tuitele has appealed to government leaders for help in dealing with a growing number of suicide cases which seem to have a connection with drugs.
Save made the appeal at a cabinet meeting today.
The commissioner said in the last 2-3 ,months, there have been 3 or four suicides which up to now are still under investigation.
He said an analysis by police indicated that these suicide cases have a connection with drugs, specifically the use of crystal methamphetamine.
The commissioner said the situation presents challenges for the department and the reason is there’s too much dishonesty.
He didn’t say who he was referring to but commented that perhaps it’s because the previous leadership did not do a good job dealing with the culprits.
Save revealed there are two companies which are heavily involved in the sale and distribution of drugs to buyers, from juveniles to adults.
But he stopped short of naming the two companies because he said the “faikakala” or gossipers are here, referring to KHJ News and Samoa News reporters.
The commissioner said he doesn’t know the answer to the drug problem that seems to have infested the community and destroying the lives of many young people.
He advocated a combined effort by the government and villages to assist policing efforts and noted that police are unable to deal with it on their own.
Governor Lolo commended the Commissioner for recognizing a drug problem exists and said that it is everyone’s responsibility to make the community safe.
He said the drug problem is one of the reasons why the administration is pushing to purchase a Rapid scanner for customs.
