The Ministry of Customs and the Samoa Police have raised concerns with the involvement of government employees in the importation of illicit drugs into the country after the 59-year-old male arrested and charged with importing over over six kilograms of methamphetamine is confirmed as a staff member of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Quarantine Division.
The man from To’omatagi has been charged with possesion of narcotics and the importation of illicit drugs after Border Control Officers found 6.032 kg of meth hidden in a carton of frozen chicken.
The street value of the confiscated shipment is estimated to be over $6,000,000 six million tala, authorities say.
The consignment was shipped on the weekly voyage of of Lady Samoa IV from American Samoa that arrived at Matautu wharf in the early hours of Saturday morning 13 December 2025.
During a joint press conference with the Ministry of Police and the Ministry of Customs on Saturday afternoon, the Chief Executive Officer of Customs, Fonoti Talaitupu Lia-Taefu said there is a grave concern that dealers are now targeting government employees working in key areas of security and border control.
“O le popolega ona ua amata ona tatou maitauina le aafia o le tagata o loo i totonu o le li’o o ofisa o matagaluega a le malo aemaise lava i vaega o loo galulue i vaega tau saogalemu i luga o uafu.”
Fonoti said the previous drug bust saw connections linked to an Officer of Customs, and now this raid has led to the arrest of a Quarantine Officer.
“E pei ona iai le mataupu muamua lea sa aafia ai se tasi e galue i totonu o le Matagaluega o Tiute..
“Ae o lē ua aafia i le taeao nei, o se tasi e galue i totonu o le vaega a le Quarantine.”
Fonoti highlighted the level of desperation the dealers have reached to ensure their products make it through Samoa’s borders.
The Customs boss says it is particularly concerning that they are now infringing on the public servants and Government officers who are responsible for protecting Samoa’s international borders.
“O le ogaoga o le mataupu lenei o le level o le desperation ua oo iai i latou, ua oo mai i totonu o le li’o o tagata faigaluega a le Malo o loo galuelue i le vaega o puipuiga o tuaoi faavaomalo..”
The second interception of illicit drugs made over the weekend was at the Faleolo Regional Airport where a 32 year old male travelling from American Samoa hid 5 plastic bags of meth weighing 141 grams inside his underwear.
The men from the two successful border operations are remanded in custody until their scheduled Court appearances on the 2nd of February 2026.
Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga reiterated that both ministries are working together in the war against illicit drugs.
“O loo sauni lava le Matagaluega i taimi uma, ma e lē mālōlō lava ina ia mautinoa e tafiesea le fualaau faasaina mai i le ono aafia ai o tatou tagata.”
18 Arrests from 5 Raid Operations
A total of 18 suspects were arrested as a result of police raids not including the two arrests from the successful border operations.
Two high school teachers were amongst the 18 suspects arrested by police during a series of drug raids this past week in efforts to shut down illicit drugs dealings before the Christmas festive season.
