8 September 2026, Apia Samoa. Two prison corrections officers and one civilian employee of the Ministry of Police and Prisons have been terminated following multiple positive drug tests for marijuana and methamphetamine.
Acting Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuealu Afamasaga confirmed that the three employees who had been suspended in August pending and internal investigation after testing positive for drugs, have now all been terminated.
“E toatolu latou na aafia mai totonu o le matagaluega, tasi le savili o le maintenance officer, ae lua correction officers..”
“O le toatolu uma lena, lea ua faamalolo, terminate uma, ma ua lua nei vaiaso talu ona faamalolo tumau.”
The two sworn-in prision correction officers tested positive for marijuana, on two separate occassions, while the maintenance officer tested positive of marijuana as well as meth.
“O correction officers e toalua, e faalua ona test positive i le mariuana, ae o le alii o le maintenance poo le savili, sa test positive i le mariuana, toe test positive i le aisa.”
Asked if the former Ministry employees would be criminally charged, the Acting Police Commissioner said they have been charged under the Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU) procedures.
Leiataua said there are areas of the Law that need to be put in place. In the meantime, the Ministry will continue to enforce its internal policies to uphold the integrity of the police force, and strictly prohibit the use of drugs.
“E le o molia criminally ona e iai vaega o le tulafono e tatau ona tapena lelei, ae o loo molia i lalo o faiga faavae a le Matagaluega, ae maise o aiaiga o galuega faatonutonu ina ia aua nei tagofia fualaau faasaina.”
SPPCS officially launched its Drug Testing Policy and Procedure in March 2026, describing it as an integrity and accountability measure aimed at ensuring illegal drugs have no place within institutions responsible for public safety.
“The initiative delivers a clear and uncompromising message, drug misuse has no place within an institution entrusted with safeguarding the community,” the Press Release stated at the time.
“Use” itself of narcotics is already prohibited by Samoa’s Narcotics Act 1967.
Under section 7 of Samoa’s Narcotics Act a person must not knowingly possess a narcotic, but the section goes further: it also expressly prohibits a person from knowingly procuring, consuming, smoking or otherwise using a narcotic.
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