Police Officers’ Numbers found on Suspended Drug Dealers’ Mobile Phones

2026-02-27 - 19:17

As police continue investigations into leaks from within the department, latest findings confirm the phone numbers of Police officers on the mobile telephones of some of those arrested and charged in relation to drugs. In response to questions during his press conference this week, Prime Minister Hon Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt said he has not yet received a final report on the investigation into suspended officers. However, there is evidence that some Officers’ phone numbers are appearing on the confiscated mobile phones of those who have been arrested and charged for drug trafficking. “That means they are in contact with these people..” “O la e fetalanoaa’i ma tagata ia..” The Prime Minister, also Minister for Police, told the media and additional two members of Samoa’s police force have been arrested. “E ese leoleo e toalua ia ua suspend ae iai foi isi leoleo, na maua numera a latou telefoni iā i latou na loka mai..” The Prime Minister said the clean up of the police force is crucial to the war against drugs in Samoa. Police Inspector Nanai Vani Vai, was suspended in January pending an investigation into leaked information during police drug raid operations. Nanai was suspended with another Officer, and both placed under investigation after it was discovered that a mobile phone belonging to a suspect, contained classified police information. At the time the Prime Minister told media that a drug related suspect was found to have had a copy of his own arrest warrant on his mobile phone. “When Police went to arrest one of the main distributors of drugs,” said Laaulialemalietoa, “a copy of the warrant for his arrest; was on his mobile phone!”