23 May 2007

American Samoan investigation suspects Fiji as source of drugs haul

10:00 am on 23 May 2007

There's suspicion that the stash of marijuana found on the Forum Samoa vessel on Tuesday morning was from the ship's last port of call Fiji.

According to investigators the cannibis was found in a shopping bag from Fiji and was wrapped in newspapers.

The marijuana was found during a routine inspection by customs officers when the vessel arrived early yesterday morning.

All the crew members were taken in for questioning including the captain who also made a statement.

The Department of Public Safety had inquired about impounding the vessel however the Attorney General's Office said that since a suspect could not be identified, there was no legal basis to keep the Forum Samoa in port.