Press Release – Ministry of Customs and Revenue 24 th April 2023

On Monday 24th April 2023, the Ministry of Customs and Revenue and the Ministry of Police Joint K9 Unit and Customs Officers through a joint effort with the Chief Customs Officer from the NZ Police and NZ Customs Pacific Detector Dog Program (PDDP) and Senior Customs Advisor from NZ Customs Service to combat illicit narcotics made a drug bust when they intercepted 489.8grams of compressed marijuana (hash) at the Post Office. The inference on the rarity of the illicit drugs in its compressed form found locally further confirms the importation of the illicit drugs from overseas. Further details pertaining to the importation details are yet to be confirmed. The CEO/Comptroller of the Ministry of Customs and Revenue will make an official hand-over of the illicit drugs to the Police Commissioner for custody and further investigation. MCR and Samoa Police will continue to collaborate with its International Partners in a joint effort to combat trafficking of illicit narcotics.

Samoan Translation
I le Aso Gafua 24 Aperila 2023, na mauaina ai fualaau faasaina o le mariuana e tusa ma le 489.8kalama lona mamafa. O le galulue faatasi o le vaega Tuufatasi o Ta’ifau sosogi a le Matagluega o Tiute ma Tupe Maua ma le Matagluega o Leoleo (Joint Samoa Police and Customs K9 Unit), faatasi ai ma le fesoasoani mai o le Alii Faufautua o le Polokalame Ta’ifau Sosogi o le Pasefika (PDDP) ma le Ofisa o Tiute a Niu Sila, na mafua ai ona maua nei fualaau faasaina. O nei mariana, ua gaosia i se auala e oomi ia maopo lelei ua taua o le Hash I le faaperetania, e iai talitonuga e le mafai ona gaosia I Samoa, ua mautinoa ai o nei Fualaau faasaina, na auina mai atunuu mamao. O loo faagasolo pea suesuega a le Matagaluega o Tiute ma Tupe Maua, faatasi ai ma le Matagaluega o Leoleo I lenei mataupu. O loo faaauau pea le galulue faatasi o le Matagaluega o Tiute ma le Matagaluega o Leoleo I le puipuiga o tatou tuaoi faa-va-i-fafo ma lo tatou lotoifale ina ia tumau pea le puipuia o tatou tagata mai aafiaga o nei fualaau Faasaina.