Tuesday 30 December 2025 Apia Samoa. The Samoa Police last night published the mug shots of 54 suspects who had been arrested and charged following a series of drug raids across the wider Urban Apia area in recent weeks.
On Christmas eve it was revealed by Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga that 44 people were held in custody from over 10 raids.
As announced by Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, Police are not retreating in the war against drugs “E le toe solomuli le galuega a leoleo”. The mug shots issued last night included arrests made after Christmas on Saturday 27th December.
The oldest arrest is a male, 59 years old from Toomatagi arrested on the 13th of December. The youngest arrest was a 15 year old arrested together with his parents when his home was raided on Saturday 27th December.
The photo of the 15 year old was mistakenly published then later taken down by Samoa Police who may need basic training on laws protecting children under 17 years. The mug shot of the 15 year old was taken down in less than an hour.
Of the 54 exposed, there were 11 women and 43 men. The oldest female suspect is 59 years old from Tuamua-Uta and Matautu-Uta arrested on the 10th of December. Public comments are suggesting she was caught at home while her husband was the suspect who fled after being tipped off by a Police Officer.
The married couple earlier identified as school teachers, one from a government school and the other at a church school are amongst the list.
Faasao Taulapapa, 46, arrested with his wife on 12 December has been called out by his former students as an Art teacher. His wife, Sauafu Taulapapa, 35, has been identified by a former student as their Math teacher.
There were 10 youth aged between 19 and 28 amongst the arrests exposed. There was one 19 year old boy and one 19 year old girl as well as two 20 year old girls.
It is disturbing that reports point to sexual violation of youth as being part of the practice within the illicit drug trade.
Of the 54 arrests 6 are listed as being from Moataa while 5 are from Falelauniu.
Many public comments are people calling for the names of their villages to be taken down, claiming the suspects are not from their village.
However the Prime Minister has called on Village Coucils of Alii and Faipule to support Police efforts by addressing the drug problem within their villages as part of a nationwide crackdown on drugs, especially methamphetamine now prevalent in Samoa.
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