Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has strong suspicions that Iraqi currency and prohibited weapons found in a police raid at Faleatiu village this past week came from American Samoa.
Police responding to calls from families in Faleatiu about two men who were firing guns into the air almost daily, confiscated 145,000 Dinars, a gun handbook, a 9mm handgun with a fully loaded clip and a modified shot gun with ammunition.
Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil said these are illegal weapons and ammunition that can only be found in the military.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa told Radio 2AP he suspects the currency and weapons made their way to Samoa from American Samoa.
He believes the source is American Samoan soldiers who served in the military in Iraq.
Tuilaepa commented that the terrorist group ISIS is in Iraq and referred to members as people who don’t put any value on a life.
He said he doesn’t think ISIS is in Samoa but it may have influenced American Samoan soldiers who served in Iraq.
According to the Samoa PM the illegal weapon found in this raid and others are for the purpose of guarding hard drugs.
He revealed for the first time that one of the reasons why the government moved to close Fagalii Airport is because of suspicions this was the entry point for contraband such as drugs and weapons flowing into Samoa from American Samoa.
”They were sending to people here,” he said, adding that some car rental owners were connected.
Tuilaepa said the “ice” trade is well established in American Samoa because it is fast money and many people are earning a living from it.
He is making a special request to the American Samoa Government to closely monitor those who are involved in the drug business, adding, “ there’s no way they don’t know who is connected” to the ice trade.
Photo: Talamua Media
