1 Oct 2020

Samoa launches third gun amnesty in five years

6:01 pm on 1 October 2020

Samoa's police have launched a three month amnesty for unlicensed and illegal arms.

Guns seized in Samoa

Guns seized in Samoa Photo: Samoa Police

TV1Samoa reported Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil indicated the amnesty also included explosives in their possession.

It was the third amnesty since Fuiavailili took command of the country's constabulary in 2015.

It followed increasing numbers of illegal firearms and ammunition that had been recovered during police raids.

Last November a major raid garnered 10,000 marijuana plants and illegal firearms and ammunition.

In April and August police raids also captured more guns.

''Turn these illegal arms in and keep us a little safer,'' said Fuiavailili.

The amnesty ends on 31 December.

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil Photo: RNZ Pacific / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia