Overview:
Samoa Customs has seized an estimated $6.3 million tala (US$2.28 million) worth of methamphetamine in two separate interceptions involving travelers and cargo from American Samoa, authorities said. The arrests mark the seventh meth bust at Samoa’s borders this year.
APIA, 15 DECEMBER 2025 (TALAMUA ONLINE0—The Samoa Customs Office has intercepted and seized $6.3 million(US$2.28 million) worth of the illegal drug, methamphetamine brought in by two separate travelers from American Samoa.
The latest drug bust was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of Customs, Fonoti Tala’itupu Taefu and the Acting Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga at a joint press conference in Apia.
Fonoti said a targeted operation identified a suspect arriving at the Regional Airport at Faleolo on the last flight from American Samoa.
Police were called in and assisted in the search when the man was reluctant to cooperate. The body search discovered a small bag concealed in the suspects underwear that contained five other packages which were tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 141 grams.
A 32 year old male of Vaitele and Nuu has been charged with possession and importation of prohibited goods.
141 grams of methamphetamine in five packages were hidden inside the suspects underwear.
The second bust was at the Matautu wharf on the Lady Samoa 4 return trip from American Samoa today where two large plastic bags containing 6.032 kgs of methamphetamine were well hidden inside a box of frozen chicken.
A 59 year old male of Toomatagi who is an employee of the Quarantine Office at Matautu has been charged with possession of methamphetamine and importation of prohibited goods.
Fonoti said the combine street value of the two separate busts is estimated at $6.3 million tala(US$2.28 million).
These two cases are the seventh methamphetamine interception at Samoa’s borders this year since the biggest bust of 9.4 kgs of meth was intercepted by a businessman in January this year….PACNEWS