The man arrested by police in relation to two consignments of methamphetamine from the US, has been identified as Pueleo Sefululua Peseta.
According to a government press release, 900 grams of methamphetamine seized by the Ministry of Customs and Revenue (MCR) at the border, was immediately transferred to the Ministry of Police and Prison (MPP) for investigations.
The 900 grams of “ice” discovered Tuesday 2nd February 2021, were split into two packages, vacuum-packed, and concealed inside two boxes of cereal.
When this second consignment arrived this week, Police were still investigating the December 2020 drug bust, where joint efforts of the K9 Unit and MPP intercepted and seized more than 500grams of methamphetamine.
Both consignments were packed in similar fashion, concealed within boxes of popular American cereal.
The combined consignments being about 1,400 grams is estimated at more than $1.4 million tala and recorded as the largest methamphetamine bust in Samoan history.
The customs officer was also immediately referred to Police yesterday for his suspected involvement in this shipment.
He was later charged and a full investigation is ongoing by MPP.
“Any law enforcement officer who is found to have affiliations with this sort of criminal activity will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” states a joint release by the Ministry of Police and Ministry of Customs.
“Both Ministries will continue to work collaboratively for the security of Samoa and will continue to be vigilant of such unlawful importations through our borders and on same domestic activities/practices”.
Pueleo Sefululua Peseta is understood to have been working with the Ministry for Customs and Revenue for more than 4 years.
In December 2020, Police Commissioner Keil said cocaine had also been seized by Police and Customs this past year.
“These are being smuggled all over the Pacific and these guys are capitalising on the SOE..
“And in this past 12 months, we’ve even found cocaine! 229 grams of cocaine confiscated at the border this year!..”
“For these bad guys, it’s all about money..”
“But for us, and for (Matafeo) Avalisa’s team, it’s about the safety of our communities; our children, and our future generations..”
Su’a says both Police and Customs are ‘up-ing their game’ and although hundreds of containers enter into Samoa’s ports each month, authorities are using techniques such profiling, and being on top of communications with transnational partners.
Samoa’s Police Commissioner says they will continue the war against drugs in Samoa, and continues to extends his warnings to those smuggling drugs into Samoa.
“We will find those responsible..”
- Hearing Date Set for Four People Charged with Sexual Acts on Woman with a Disability - October 5, 2021
- Two Sasina Matai Charged with Uttering Threatening and Insulting Words - October 5, 2021
- Male Prisoner at Tanumalala Pleads Guilty to Acts of Sodomy - October 5, 2021
