Samoa cop charged with bribery in case involving American Samoa

Apia, SAMOA — A police officer in Samoa has been arrested and charged with accepting a bribe in relation to a drug smuggling case.

The officer is accused of taking a bribe from a man charged with the possession of more than $US150,000 worth of cocaine and heroin.

The man had tried to move the drugs through Faleolo Airport to American Samoa with his Vietnamese wife, who is also facing charges of possession and bribery.

The Samoa police commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, said he had zero tolerance for people who betray the trust of the community.

There will also be an internal police investigation, Fuiavaillili said.

BACKGROUND

Ana Tran Thi was stopped at Faleolo International Airport 21 July carrying tablets that tested positive for cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of more than $400,000 tala

The 24 year old Vietnamese woman is in police custody for carrying illegal drugs into the country and will appear in court again this Friday for the court to arrange an interpreter.

Police said the accused was traveling from Singapore via Fiji and her final destination was American Samoa.