Overview:
Police say a pre-dawn search of a Meyuns apartment uncovered meth, marijuana and a stash of cash — now the two women who lived there are facing some of Palau's toughest drug charges.
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau (Aug. 4, 2026) — Two women face drug trafficking and possession charges after police searched their Meyuns apartment last month and allegedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and more than $25,000 in cash, court records show.
Loliza Lalii Takawo and Courtney Olidang Saburo were charged Thursday with trafficking of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Saburo faces an additional charge of possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Sesario Gibbons, officers from the Division of Transnational Crime and the Division of Juvenile Justice searched the residence, known as Jeff Apartment or Jeffery’s Apartment, at about 5:50 a.m. on July 29. Investigators also searched a silver Toyota Vanguard SUV registered to Takawo.
The affidavit states officers saw Saburo in the bathroom allegedly trying to flush evidence down the toilet during the search. Suspected methamphetamine was recovered from multiple locations, including a ziplock bag in the toilet bowl, crystalline residue on the bathroom floor and in the bathtub, and a brown shopping bag inside the apartment. In total, officers recovered about 16.60 grams of suspected methamphetamine, along with a glass smoking pipe containing suspected methamphetamine found in Saburo’s front pocket.
Officers also seized two glass jars of suspected marijuana, weighing a combined 11.52 grams, from a living room rack. Investigators recovered $25,551.89 in cash from the apartment and vehicle, as well as digital scales, ziplock bags, cut plastic straws, smoking devices, scissors, lighters and other items police said are commonly associated with drug distribution.
The affidavit says Takawo told investigators she had purchased about 50 grams of methamphetamine for $15,000 but received only about 25 grams, with the shipment arriving during the week of July 27.
Citing the quantity of drugs recovered, the cash, packaging materials and Takawo’s alleged admission, investigators said there was probable cause the women possessed methamphetamine with intent to deliver or dispense it.
Takawo and Saburo have been held at the Division of Corrections since 11:30 a.m. on July 29.
Possession of a controlled substance carries a prison term of 15 to 35 years and a fine of $10,000 to $20,000. Trafficking of a controlled substance carries a prison term of 25 to 50 years and a fine of $50,000 to $1,000,000.