Police target Lady Naomi in illegal drugs supply chain

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 30 MAY 2023: The Lady Naomi ferry that provides weekly sailings between Samoa and American Samoa is on top of the police suspect list of being used by dealers to bring in illegal drugs into Samoa.

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed with Talamua that police arrested a man in a raid last weekend at Moto’otua and charged with the possession of narcotics.

The materials confiscated include:

• 2.6kg of methamphetamine
• Utensils,
• Money and
• Illegal ammunition.

The 46 year old man is from Fagalii and has been under police surveillance for some time. He was arrested at a flat he was using at Motootua.

Auapaau said the man uplifted the package from Lady Naomi in the weekend after the vessel returned from American Samoa.

“We have a strong suspicion of the vessel being used to bring illegal drugs into the country after we made the arrest,” said Auapaau.

Although police now have a target, Auapaau said they are not suspecting the involvement of any of the Lady Samoa employees.

Drug dealers using hotels as distribution points
The Police Commissioner also point to the growing trend of drug dealers renting rooms at hotels or private accommodations for their business.

“This way it will be difficult to identify them as drug dealers but as visitors living at hotel,” said Auapaau.

A few years back, police raided another hotel and arrested two young men who used the hotel to distribute drugs. One of them had just arrived from American Samoa at the time.