Veterans Day drug bust in Pago results in 8 people being charged

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Eight people — six men and two women are now being charged with violating local drug laws after drugs were found when armed detectives of the DPS Vice and Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on two vehicles and a home in Pago Pago late Friday afternoon, Nov. 11, 2022.

The eight defendants — Gogo Sitanilei, Meriko Lomu, Desmond Tupa’i, David Iosefa, Dimitri Tua-Fruean, Iopu Loe, Lasiera Loke and Vaatausili Toimoana, all appeared in District Court this past Monday for initial appearances.

Meriko Lomu, one of the two females charged, is currently serving a 10-year probation sentence for a drug conviction after she, along with two male suspects were found with drugs when armed detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Pago Pago in 2018.

All eight defendants are each charged with a single count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), an unclassified felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years, a fine of up to $20,000.

Bail for Tupa’i, Toimoana and Loke was set at $5,000. Loe’s bail is set at $10,000; bail for Tua-Fruean and Sitanilei is $20,000; and Lomu’s bail is set at $30,000.

Preliminary hearing (PX) is scheduled for next week.

According to the government’s case, it was around 2:14p.m on Friday afternoon, Nov. 11, 2022 when a group of armed police detectives from the Vice and Narcotics Unit (VNU), along with several police officers executed a search warrant on Semi Aiava’s residence in Pago Pago.

The search warrant, signed by the court, directed detectives to search Aiava’s residence, along with two vehicles. Eight people were also mentioned in the search warrant. They were the eight that were arrested and charged when the warrant was served.

The first three people were arrested inside Sitanilei’s vehicle while the other 5 suspects were arrested near and inside the Aiava’s residence in Pago Pago.

The government stated that while detectives of the VNU were on their way to execute the search warrant in Pago Pago, they observed Sitanilei operating a green vehicle heading east on the Pago Pago public highway.

Detectives, who were traveling in a private vehicle, followed Sitanilei’s vehicle and they observed Sitanilei’s vehicle pull over to the side of the road facing towards the area known as ‘Chinatown’ in Pago Pago.

Detectives quickly pulled up next to the vehicle and approached the it, detaining Sitanilei at the scene. Meriko Lomu and Desmond Tupa’i were also inside Sitanilei’s vehicle and they were instructed by detectives to exit the vehicle slowly.

Upon asking Lomu to exit the vehicle, detectives observed Lomu discarding an object outside of the vehicle. Lomu looked nervous and shocked when she saw detectives approaching Sitanilei’s vehicle.

Detectives picked up the object that was discarded by Lomu and discovered that it was a small stamp size baggie containing a white crystalline substance.

All three people, Sitanilei, Lomu and Tupa’i were transported to the Fagatogo Central Police Station (FCPS) for further investigation. The vehicle driven by Sitanilei was also impounded at the FCPS for further investigation.

Before the vehicle was impounded, detectives conducted an inventory of the vehicle in the presence of the driver, Sitanilei.

During the inventory, two glass pipes containing a white crystalline substance were found inside the vehicle, along with a rolled up marijuana joint, a small sized baggie containing a white crystalline substance, one medium sized baggie with multiple empty baggies in it, a digital scale, box cutter, bag of colored straws and two cell phones.

Sitanilei was Mirandized and agreed to speak to investigators. When asked to whom the items belonged, Sitanilei stated that all items discovered inside his vehicle belonged to Lomu.

Tupa’i was also Mirandized but refused to make a statement.

Investigators informed Tupa’i about the glass pipe containing meth found in the spot he was sitting, however, he denied that he had any knowledge about the glass pipe. He told investigators that his only possessions in the car were his bag and flipflops.

Lomu was also present when detectives conducted the search on Sitanilei’s vehicle. She pointed out that a MK brand backpack within the vehicle belonged to her. Other items were a flash and a cell phone. Lomu denied the contraband that were found in the car was hers.

Investigators attempted to Mirandize Lomu and she stated that she wanted her lawyer. Investigators tried to contact the defendant’s lawyer but were unsuccessful after many attempts. Investigators continued trying to read Lomu her rights where she stated she understood her rights and refused to waive them and make a statement.

While investigators were trying to get a hold of Lomu’s lawyer, Lomu informed investigators that she was pregnant and that her sugar level was low and she wasn’t feeling well. EMS was contacted and upon arrival at the FCPS, Lomu was treated on the scene and later transported by the EMS crew to the LBJ Medical Hospital for further medical treatment. She was admitted to the Maternity ward for monitoring and was discharged around 10a.m on the next day, Saturday, Nov. 12.

The five people arrested at Aiava’s residence were also transported to the FCPS for further investigation.

Before Iopu Loe was transported to the police station, he was patted down for weapons and contraband. During a body search, cops discovered a glass pipe containing meth in his possession.  Loe told investigators he didn’t know anything about the glass pipe and he refused to answer further questions.

Vaatausili Toimoana was also patted down and a glass pipe containing meth was found on him and he immediately denied any knowledge about the glass pipe. He refused to answer any further questions from investigators.

Lasiera Loke was also Mirandized and agreed to answer questions.

Loke admitted to investigators that the glass pipe containing meth found inside her pocket during a pat down belonged to her. She told investigators she got the glass pipe from Lomu who is the sole provider of all the drugs she and her friends receive.

Loke said Lomu runs her drug operation out of Semi’s residence and Sitanilei and Tua-Fruean are the two main men selling drugs in the village and to other people outside of the village.

David Iosefa during his pat-down, a cut-up straw containing meth was found inside his pocket.

He was Mirandized and said he wished to answer questions about what happened.

Iosefa stated that he regularly goes to Aiava’s house to play darts and smoke meth with the guys. He admitted that he got the cut up straw containing meth from Semi Aiava. He also admitted that he smoked with Toimoana and Tua-Fruean before the raid happened.

He told investigators that the drugs they all smoked belonged to Lomu. Sometimes Lomu would give meth to Tua-Fruean and Sitanilei to distribute. He also stated that there are times where he saw people coming to Aiava’s house to buy drugs.

The white crystalline substance found during the raid was tested and the results were positive for meth. The green leafy substance contained inside the hand rolled joint found in Sitanilei’s vehicle was also tested and the result was positive for THC/ marijuana.

All evidence seized was transported to the FCPS for recording and deposit into the DPS Evidence Room.

After interviewing all 8 suspects in this matter, they were later transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where they were booked and confined.

BACKGROUND

Defendant Meriko Lomu — who is allegedly the supplier of the meth that was found during the raid executed last Friday — is on a 10-year probation sentence handed down by the High Court, in 2019, after being convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of meth with the intent to distribute.

Lomu, along with another person, was found with drugs and contraband when armed detectives executed a search warrant at Sio Godinet’s home in Pago Pago in May 15, 2018.

One year after she was sentence in February 2020, Lomu appeared in court for a probation violation after testing positive for meth. However, the court did not revoke her 10-year probation, but she was ordered to serve the 40 months of her period of detention that was originally stayed by the court.