The Ministry of Police spokesperson has clarified that they cannot start investigating supposed criminal actions unless they receive a formal complaint.
Sala’a Sale Sala’a was reacting to queries about a container that according to the Minister for Customs, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, his office had confiscated.
It is alleged the container was smuggled into the country using falsified documents.
But Sala’a says that may be so but the police still cannot start any investigation unless there is a formal complaint from the Ministry for Revenue.
“We cannot do anything unless an official complaint is filed with the Police,” he told the Samoa Observer.
Tialavea last month publicized that a container brought into the country by a businessman running a furniture store after suspicions following an increased number of containers imported.
By the time customs acted on their suspicions, only one container was left and instead of furniture, they found 2,300 cases of soda drinks.
It is still not clear if Customs intend to file a formal complaint with Police.
