A customs officer is under arrest on criminal charges related to a half million tala shipment of methamphetamine uncovered by police this week.
The illegal drugs and the subsequent arrest of the border control personnel was disclosed in a police statement posted online.
The statement reads :
Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services has arrested a Customs Officer in relation to drugs found in a consignment addressed to the individual which was searched by both Customs and Police yesterday, Tuesday, 2 February 2021.
The joint effort by Customs and Police to disrupt the infiltration of Samoa’s borders with drugs have resulted in this arrest.
Preliminary tests confirm the discovered items to be methamphetamine. Samples have been referred by Police to the Scientific Research Office of Samoa for further evaluation.
The street value of the seized drugs is believed to be approximately SAT$500,000 tala.
Investigations are continuing to determine whether the said individual and/or others is connected with the methamphetamine and cannabis discovered at the border in December 2020.
As a result, a Customs officer has been arrested to await a Court date for this matter.
The actions of this individual does not reflect the hard work implemented everyday by members of all Border Security agencies in detecting and preventing of these illegal substances from entering our country and consequently into our communities.
Working together for a safe Samoa.