One of the men targeted in 2020 Manu’a drug bust charged

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The man arrested in a police raid on Ofu, Manu’a in the middle of 2020 where drugs, guns, ammunitions and paraphernalia were discovered — is now being charged for violating local drug laws.

Apelu Liulamaga made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

Liulamaga is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana; both felonies, along with 4 counts of possession of unlicensed arms, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Bail is set at $15,000.

THE CASE

On June 3, 2020, Associate Justice Elvis P. Patea signed warrants to search Apelu Liulamaga’s and Eleloi Misaalefua’s residences on Ofu, Manu’a.

On June 4, 2020, the search warrant was executed on the residence of Mr. Misaalefua, who was not in Ofu at the time armed detectives arrived. However, his stepdaughter was present and was informed of the warrant and provided with a copy of it.

During the search, detectives discovered a small torch, rolling papers, a 22 caliber rifle with a scope, a pellet rifle with a scope, along with a small container containing pellets, and also a bag with more than 50 marijuana seeds inside.

Around 9:55a.m on the same date, the search continued to the land behind Misaalefua’s home and about 50 yards up the mountain. Detectives discovered several fresh ‘pit-marks’ or impressions in the soil indicating that pots plants had been situated there at one time and it appeared as though they had been recently removed before detectives arrived.

Detectives also discovered several loose leaves of marijuana scattered all over and it appeared the person rushed to remove the plants before authorities got there. Officers also discovered several buckets with soil inside that had been recently emptied and scattered over the land. Fertilizer was also discovered, as well as some the buckets full of water and some kind of waste  — which led police to believe that a plantation had been situated there at one time and it appeared as though it had been recently removed.

Three small live marijuana plants were discovered in a plastic pot found in one of ‘pit-marks’. Items that were found and the development of the land revealed a pattern of cultivation, according to police.

All substances found were seized and later tested by detectives and the substances yielded a positive result for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active compound in marijuana.

Detectives also attempted to serve a warrant on Liulamaga’s residence, on Ofu, but no one was at home.

Police officers in Ofu were informed by detectives to look for Liulamaga at his work place based on information from some village members that he had left for work.

However, information from Liulamaga’s work place noted that he never showed up for work. Officers were later informed that Liulamaga went for a walk up the mountain.

Detectives then received orders from the police captain in charge to search Liulamaga’s two houses without his presence.

During the search of the houses, detectives discovered several empty stamp sized baggies, a propane torch and 4 stamp sized baggies containing a usable amount of white crystalline substance.

Detectives also discovered a plastic container with a green leafy substance and marijuana seeds, a used hand rolled marijuana joint, and a silver grinder.

Also found was a 22 caliber rifle, a 30-30 rifle with a scope, several 30-30 bullets (16 counts), 22 caliber 110 bullets with a magazine and a cracked glass pipe.

All illegal substances that were found were tested by detectives and yielded positive results for the illegal drugs meth and for marijuana.

Further investigation revealed that none of the weapons found at either locations were registered in Misaalefua’s or Liulamaga’s names.

All evidence was seized and documented and later turned in to the department’s evidence custodian on the same date of the search warrant.

Two days later on June 5, Misaalefua walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and requested to speak with investigators regarding the search of his residence in Ofu. He was Mirandized and later waived his rights and volunteered to make a statement.

According to Misaalefua, he does not do ice (meth). However, he admitted that he smokes marijuana and he grew a few plants for his personal use. He further stated that the plants found were not his but they belong to Liulamaga.

Misaalefua stated that the land behind his residence belongs to his family, but the plants were not his. As for the two rifles found in his house, Misaalefua informed investigators that he had no comment.

He also mentioned during the interview that the plantation that officers found behind his house was Liulamaga’s marijuana plantation and he must have removed it when he found out that the officers were there to search his place.

After interviewing and obtaining his statement, Misaalefua left to go home, pending investigation.

On the same date, around 1:30 in the afternoon, Liulamaga walked into the Central Police in Fagatogo and met with investigators where he was Mirandized and said he wished to remain silent — not make a statement.

However, he spontaneously uttered that he used to have a marijuana plantation but he had it way up the mountain where his land is situated, and the plantation officers found belonged to Misaalefua.

He told investigators that Misaalefua had over 100 plants in his plantation behind his home up the mountain. Liulamaga then left to go home, pending the investigation.

Misaalefua was re-interviewed again later that day regarding some new information received about the marijuana plantation. At that time, Misaalefua did not wish to make a statement.