15-year-old among 12 people arrested in police Savaii drug raid

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA -12 January 2026: A 15-year-old is among twelve people now in police custody at the Tanumalala Prison police arrested in a drug raid at Savaii last Friday.

Acting Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga confirmed this is the second 15-year-old arrested during the recent police drug raids and the two minors will be charged as adults based on the seriousness of the offence.

The raids in Savaii were conducted in separate villages that included Maota, Salelologa and Faala Palauli where police arrested 3 women and 9 men between the ages of 15 and 50.

According to Leiataua, all are unemployed but have assets worthy of people with good and stable incomes.

Police confiscated meth, marijuana plants, marijuana joints already wrapped in foil, unlicensed weapons and ammunition and cash of more than $5000 tala from the Savaii drug raid.

Leiataua confirmed that more than 50 people are now in custody at the Tanumalala Prison police arrested since its current campaign against illegal drugs. He said this is the first time this many accused drug offenders have been placed under custody at any one time.

Leiataua acknowledged the support of the Alii ma Faipule who had been instrumental in identifying the suspects.

“Police could not have done such a successful job without the assistance of the Alii ma Faipule and villages,” said Leiataua.

Illegal drugs, guns, ammunition and money confiscated from the police drug raid in three villages in Savaii raid last Friday.

Posting accused photos/villages
Leiataua also addressed the accusations made against the police when the photos and villages of the accused were posted online for the public’s information.

Leiataua believes as the only law enforcement entity in Samoa, the police have the authority to post photos especially for people to know and identify their faces if approached.

Several Village Councils have since acted against the accused when they were identified publicly by the police as the Councils were concerned about their village name being tarnished by the accused’s actions.

Leiataua emphasized that illegal drugs is the number one problem facing the country at the moment and the Ministry of Police is doing all it can to eradicate it.

Recent police raids found illegal drugs in homes with parents and children around and that traffickers are targeting young people and students.

Police raids and intercepts at the borders exposed the involvement of government officials in using the system to smuggle illicit drugs especially meth.

Leiataua said police are working closely with the American Samoa police in sharing information and intercepting recent parcels that were shipped from American Samoa is the result of this cooperation.