Police to be armed in future drug raids

Apia, SAMOA – 13 December 2025 – Samoan police have been given the approval to be armed during future drug raids.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Police & Prisons, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt confirmed that he has signed the warrant to allow police to be armed for protection during drug raids.

The Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to fight against the rapid increase and negative impact of illegal drugs especially methamphetamine that he said is already infiltrating students and young people.

He condemned people who are making business out of selling drugs and targeting young people and students and said the government cannot ignore the problem.

He said the rapid increase of illegal drugs relates to the possession of illegal arms and police must be protected when going out on drug raids.

He also said that people are no longer afraid to come out with police investigating a social media post last week showing a man with an illegal automatic assault rifle.

Last year, a senior police officer was shot dead at Nofoalii by a man the police went out to arrest after he shot dead another man the day before, and the police were not armed.

The Prime Minister said that the United States Embassy is donating to the police bulletproof vests as part of police protection when undertaking dangerous raids.

Samoa is only three months into a yearlong public awareness campaign “Say No to Illegal Drugs” and the Prime Minister is calling on everyone, from the churches, village councils, police, parents to play a part in eliminating illegal drugs from Samoa.

Recently, college students were reported to have been involved in the use and sale of methamphetamine, and some school laboratories were reported to be raided for implements suspected to be used in the local manufacture of the drug.

The Prime Minister said that illegal drugs in Samoa is now a white-collar business with reports of suspects living in mansions and driving luxury cars and the law must look at freezing these assets if proven to be the products of an illegal drugs trade.

Several senior government officers were recently charged and some jailed for possession and use of methamphetamine and several cases linked to officers employed with Customs have been caught smuggling the drug hidden in food products.

The Government is also beefing up border control by providing the necessary equipment such as Xray machines at all ports of entry and is awaiting the arrival of two more K9 dogs from New Zealand.