The American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) last week successfully completed the extradition of a detainee linked to a major narcotics investigation that began in November 2023.
According to a ASDHS press release, the detainee, accompanied by two Special Agents from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) and two Special Agents from ASDHS, was transported from American Samoa to Honolulu, Hawai‘i, for an initial appearance in Federal District Court.
Following the hearing in Hawai‘i, the detainee will be formally transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, who will then escort the individual to California for continued federal judicial proceedings.
This case, which resulted in a Federal Arrest Warrant issued in December 2024, represents one of the most impactful coordinated drug enforcement efforts in recent years.
The operation yielded:
• Three arrests (in both American Samoa and California), each suspect facing up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted.
• Cash totaling $52,172 was seized, 2 pounds of cannabis was confiscated and 37 pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted, stopping the drugs from entering, being distributed, or being used within the territory.
ASDHS formally acknowledges and extends its gratitude to local and feeral partners for their unwavering support throughout the investigation.
The local partners are:
- Office of the Attorney General
- Department of Public Safety
- Customs Division
The federal agencies which assisted in the investigation are:
• U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG)
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Together, the collective actions of these agencies prevented a significant quantity of dangerous drugs from reaching our community and demonstrated a unified commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of the people of American Samoa.
ASDHS did not name the individual who was extradited and says it will not be answering any questions pertaining to this case until it moves forward through the federal judicial process.
