Samoa’s Police Commissioner has shed more light on a dawn raid yesterday at Fasito’o-uta and Faleatiu, not very far from Faleolo International Airport.
Fuiavailili Egon Keil told media close to 60 officers were involved in the operation launched after numerous tips from members of the public of illegal activity in the area including shots being fired.
He said seven individuals were arrested including three women and they face charges of cultivation, possession and distribution of marijuana.
They are also charged with possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
Fuiavailili said some of those arrested are familiar to police.
“Some of these individuals, all they do is narcotics; marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and we have seen all of it. But once you mix hard drugs and these guns, it gets very dangerous.”
He said one of the most dangerous things they discovered was the number of young children living amongst the drug operations.
“Some of these young ones know exactly what to do, and they even tried to flush marijuana down the toilet,” he said.
He added that the leaves which the children tried to flush all floated back up.
The Commissioner observed that the problem in Faleatiu now seems to have infiltrated the village of Fasitoo-uta, especially in the hills.
“There are some people out there who think [marijuana] is harmless, maybe so, maybe not, I don’t know; the only thing is that in Samoa, it is illegal,” said Fuiavailiili.
“Instead of planting cabbage and taro, they plant marijuana. But once you do this, you are running the risk of getting locked up, charged and maybe go to Tanumalala prison.”
