Photo: Samoa Government Facebook
Samoa's customs and police are reporting two seizures of methamphetamine at the border.
A search of a suspect arriving from American Samoa on Friday found a small bag concealed inside the person's underwear.
The bag contained five packages, all of which subsequently tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 141 grams.
The next day, the Ministry of Customs intercepted about 6kg of methamphetamine concealed inside a box of frozen chicken at the Matautu Wharf.
The shipment originated from American Samoa, and was targeted for inspection based on intelligence.
A 32-year-old man and a 59-year-old man have been charged with possession of narcotics and importation of prohibited goods. Both have been remanded in custody until 2 February for Supreme Court mention.
Samoa's Chief Executive Officer of Customs and Commissioner of Police have expressed concern over continued attempts to bring methamphetamine into the country.
In a statement, they emphasized the devastating impact of the drug on families, particularly young people.
"Customs and police remain committed in our determination to identify and dismantle drug networks," they said.
They said these two cases mark the seventh methamphetamine interception at Samoa's borders this year since the 9.4 kilograms of meth intercepted in January.
"The interceptions represent success in the ongoing fight against illicit drugs," the statement said.
The police, prisons and corrections department said on Saturday that police conducted five drug raids last week, and overall 20 defendants were arrested in relation to possession of narcotics - 18 people as a result of police raids as well as the two at the border.
Drug trafficking is an ongoing problem in Samoa and the wider Pacific.
Illicit drug use is increasing in the region, with children as young as 10 becoming addicted.
