All eight now charged from drug raids in Fagaalu last week Monday

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As previously reported by Samoa News, eight individuals, including three women, were apprehended last week and made their initial court appearances in District Court on Thursday, June 8, 2023 on charges relating to drug raids by police at two homes in Fagaalu on Monday, June 5.

The raid began with the execution of a search warrant on Kika Benjamin Tilei in Faga’alu and culminated with the execution of a warrant on Tavita Tali’s house.

Ten individuals in total were searched and questioned during the raids, with two told to leave after pat downs cleared them, while 8 were taken in, Mirandized and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await charges to be filed, and court appearances.

The eight are: Kika Benjamin Tilei, Tavita Tali, Kueni Falepau, Aiga Suluao Tu’upo, Kamipeli Taufalele, Harris Fitiao, Adelle Fenumia’i and Samuelu Luatua.

Adelle and Kika are said to be brother and sister; Kueni was later identified as Kika’s girlfriend and Tu’upo is said to be Kueni’s sister. Samuelu is identified as Adelle’s boyfriend. All four individuals,are alleged to be living at Kika's house, while Taufalele is identified as working for Tilei’s landscaping business.

Tavita has his own residence and was arrested on the same day, based on a separate search warrant. At the time of his arrest, he is alleged to have identified Kika and his girlfriend as his supplier. Fitiao was taken into custody from Tavita’s house, when drugs were found on his person, and is identified as working for Tilei’s landscaping business.

Samoa News has reported on 3 of the 8 individuals charged last week Thursday. The remaining 5 are as follows:

KIKA BENJAMIN TILEI

On the day of the raid at 6:55 PM, Tilei was Mirandized and acknowledged he understood his rights, but refused to make a statement or answer questions. He was booked and confined at the TFC and appeared in court on June 8th, 2023.

Tilei has been charged with 4 criminal counts — 2 counts in the unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana and methamphetamine), 2 counts in the unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana and meth) with intent to distribute. His bail is set at $40,000.

KUENI FALEPAU

Kueni Falepau has been accused by the four individuals employed by her boyfriend, Kika Tilei to work in his landscaping company of owning the drugs and selling them. They allege that is how they are paid in return for the work they do at Tilei’s landscaping company.

The backpack that was found inside Tilei’s bedroom containing small baggies with white crystalline substance along with paraphernalia is alleged to belong to Falepau.

On the same day, June 5, as the raid, Falepau was taken into custody and Mirandized. She acknowledged she understood her rights, but refused to make a statement or answer questions.

Falepau is charged with 2 counts of unlawful possession of controlled substances, marijuana and meth, with the intent to distribute. Her bail is set at $30,000.

AIGA TU’UPO

A cut-up green straw containing crystalline substance was allegedly found on Aiga Tu’upo during the pat down of her person when she was in the vehicle with Tilei and Falepau.

And, when Tilei’s residence was searched, allegedly found in the room that Tu’upo was said to occupy, was a marijuana plant- about 2 feet tall, 2 medium baggies containing an usable amount of white crystalline substance and a box of used empty cut up straws.

She was taken into custody, and Mirandized, but refused to make a statement or answer questions.

Tu’upo is charged with 4 criminal counts — 2 counts of the unlawful possession of a controlled substance, marijuana and meth, with intent to distribute and 2 counts of the unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana and meth). Bail for Tu’upo is set for $30,000.

KAMIPELI TAUFALELE

Kamipele Taufalele, upon alleged observation by officers at Tilei’s garage, tossed what appeared to be a glass pipe away from his person. When he was asked about the object he tossed, he told officers he did not throw anything away, but the detectives allegedly located the paraphernalia he discarded underneath the ping pong table located in the garage.

Taufalele was taken into custody and Mirandized on the same day as the raid. He acknowledged that he understood his rights and said wished to make a statement and answer questions.

According to Taufalele’s verbal statement, Tilei and his girlfriend Falepau sell meth and marijuana. He allegedly said it was Falepau that called him and asked if he wanted to work at her boyfriend’s landscaping company to earn some money and that she was going to “take care of him” — indicating that she’ll provide drugs for him.

Officers then asked Taufalele about the glass pipe he tossed when officers approached the house, and he admitted that it belonged to him and that he had bought it from Falepau before they left to start a landscaping project.

Taufalele further alleged that the majority of the times they do landscaping, Tilei and his girlfriend Falepau provided $25 worth of meth for their work.

The defendant is charged with one criminal count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Bail has been set at $5,000.

HARRIS FITIAO

During the search of Tavita Tali’s residence, officers discovered another male individual there, Harris Fitiao, who was apprehended after a pat-down by officers. They allegedly discovered paraphernalia containing white crystalline substances.

Fitiao was taken into custody and Mirandized He opted to make a statement to police.

According to Fitiao’s statement, he alleged Tilei was selling drugs from his house and  that he (Fitiao) worked for Tilei’s landscaping company. Fitiao said that he would be paid by Tilei for his work with a small baggie or with a cut-up straw containing meth as reward for his work. He further noted that he would buy drugs from Falepau when Tilei was not available.

Fitiao is charged with 1 criminal count — unlawful possession of a controlled substance (meth). His bail is set at $10,000.