The Supreme Court of Samoa has denied a travel application by 74-year-old businessman Roderick Ignatius Mackenzie, who is facing charges of importing methamphetamine.
Samoa Global News reports that Mackenzie and two of his staff members are jointly charged in connection with the largest drug bust at Samoa’s borders and were released on bail in February on the condition that they surrender their travel documents and sign in twice a week at police headquarters.
Close to 10 kg of crystal meth was seized in a joint Customs and Police K9 Unit operation using Samoa’s newly installed container X-ray scanner on January 29, 2025.
Defense counsel Magele Leone Su’a requested permission from the court for Mackenzie to travel to American Samoa for his usual medical checks.
The defendant was prepared to pay a lump sum bond fee and provide two guarantors to sign on his behalf to assure his return.
Magele told the court that Mackenzie had no reason to not return and face the charges against him.
Police strongly objected to the travel request, stating that there were no reciprocity arrangements between Samoa and American Samoa to ensure the defendant’s return, and there was a good chance he would remain in American Samoa as a U.S. citizen.
Supreme Court Justice Leutele Niavā Mata Tuatagaloa denied the application, stating she considered that Mackenzie is a U.S. citizen and that there was a possibility he would not return to face charges against him.
The court also considered that this was the largest shipment of methamphetamine ever seized at Samoa’s borders.
The case of Roderick Mackenzie and co-defendants Peter Hanipale Malae, 40, and Jacinta Selafi Chung Kwan, 57, will be heard in September 2025.
