Stopped for speeding twice — both times woman possessed meth

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 30, 2023, a traffic stop in Fagaalu resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old female, Osomanu Tauane and a 23-year-old male, Tien Vuxuan for possession of methamphetamine (meth).

Ms Tauane was arrested and charged with the following:

Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by term of imprisonment of not less than five or more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000, nor more than $20,000, or both.

Count 2: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance With Intent to Distribute (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by term of imprisonment of not less than five or more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000, nor more than $20,000, or both.

Osomanu’s bail was set at $20,000.

Mr. Tien Vuxuan was charged with Count 1: Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a felony punishable by term of imprisonment of not less than five or more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5000, nor more than $20,000, or both.

Vuxuan’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, a police officer conducted a traffic stop in the village of Fagaalu for speeding. The officer approached the driver of the vehicle and advised her on why he had stopped her. He informed her she was speeding at 33 mph in a 20 mph zone.

The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Osomanu Tauane, who was then found to have a warrant out for her arrest from a previous case for alleged unlawful possession of controlled substances — meth and marijuana. In that case, she was also driving a vehicle that was stopped for speeding, that time in Aua. It had a female passenger in it who claimed to have been picked up only for a joy ride. Only Tauane was charged in the Aua traffic stop case, and at the time was booked and taken the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) for 48-hour confinement.

During the Fagaalu traffic stop, the police officer who was speaking with Tauane saw a glass pipe with crystalline substance in the cup holder in the frontseat of the car. At that point, both Tauane and Vuxuan were apprehended, with Tauane placed into the vehicle she had been driving, while Vuxuan was placed inside a police unit.

According to the affidavit, the officer reported that Tauane spontaneously told the officer that the glass pipe belonged to her. Both parties were transported back to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for processing.

Upon arrival at the FPS, a police officer conducted an inventory of the vehicle in the presence of Osomanu while being assisted by two other officers.

As stated in the affidavit, during the inventory, the officer found 14 green cut up straws with crystalline substances in them at the center of the armrest compartment. There was also a black backpack, which Tauane claimed belonged to her and a black fanny pack that belonged to Vuxuan.

Police later tested the crystalline substances that were inside the glass pipe and the green cut up straws utilizing the Methamphetamine field test kit. The result yielded positive results for meth.

Police conducted a pat down on Vuxuan before questioning and found $50 cash on him. He also had a wireless earphone. During the pat down, he stated that he had smoked ice/ meth with Tauane while on their way to drop him off at home in Fagaalu, right before being stopped by police. He further explained that the glass pipe in the car belonged to Tauane.

Vuxuan then consented to a search of his fanny pack. Two glass pipes with crystalline substances were found in the fanny pack, with empty small stamp size baggies, and other miscellaneous items. Vuxuan admitted that the glass pipes were for his personal use.

Police tested the crystalline substances that were inside the glass pipes, which yielded positive results for meth.

Vuxuan was Mirandized after which he refused to waive his rights. Vuxuan was booked and later transported to the TCF for confinement and to await the arrest warrant.

At the FPS, Tauane was served with the recent arrest warrant and again “spontaneously uttered” that the “14 green straws were for her personal use and that she bought them from a seller on the street”.

 She also consented to her backpack being searched. In the backpack, police found drug paraphernalia and other assorted personal items.

Tauane was Mirandized and refused to waive her rights. She was booked and later transported to TCF for confinement.

According to the affidavit, the police officer verified that according to his knowledge and experience that the items that were found and the quantity of the drugs that were found are associated with intent to distribute. The weight of the crystalline substance within the 14 green straws were 0.40 grams and a street value of $25 to $30.

The affidavit does not mention whether the value was per straw or for the group of seven.

Ms Tauane is identified as a US National and Mr. Vuxuan as a citizen of Vietnam.