Traffic stop results in meth arrest

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 15, 2025, a traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old man, who was in possession of methamphetamine (meth).

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with Count 1: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substances, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not less than five years but not to exceed 10 years, a fine of not less than $5,000.00 but not more than $20,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the court affidavit, on July 15th, traffic officers conducted a traffic stop of a truck for speeding while heading west. The driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as AJ Talauega did not have a driver’s license and was taken into custody for further investigation.

During a pat down for weapons, the officers felt a hard object in the suspect’s pocket. Upon asking the suspect about the object, the suspect pulled out what appeared to be a glass pipe containing crystalline substance.

An investigation later revealed more details of the incident. There were three occupants/ passengers in the truck, two females and a male, plus the driver. All parties were transported to the FPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the Fagatogo Police Station, the officers informed the passengers of the truck that they were being released after an inventory of the vehicle.

During the inventory, authorities found a green cut up straw inside the middle cup holder containing crystalline substance.

Authorities suspected the crystalline substances found in both the glass pipe and the cut up straw to be meth. The Vice and Narcotic Unit was contacted and the substances were tested using a Methamphetamine Field Test Kit.

Positive results of the controlled substances were revealed in both tests and witnessed by the responding officer.

Upon receiving the results of the field test, Talauega was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement.

Talauega admitted that the glass pipe and green cut up straw containing meth belonged to him and that none of the passengers, smoke meth, except for him.

The suspect was later booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for a 48-hour confinement to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The evidence was confiscated and recorded into the evidence room.

The suspect is identified as a 21-year-old U.S National.