Two brothers and three former police officers in American Samoa have been charged with running an alleged drug operation out of the territory's only jail.
The Territorial Correctional Facility Photo: RNZI Monica Miller
Samoa News reported the two brothers are Spencer and Vincent Toeava and the three former officers who worked at the correctional facility, are Jimmy Stanley, Leasi Neueli, and Faavae Papatu.
Vincent Toeava was an inmate after being charged more than a year ago with 19 counts relating to a food stamp fraud case.
The latest charges stem from a police raid of the facility in October where officers found clear plastic cut-up straws containing a white crystalline substance that was allegedly passed from Mr Toeava to an inmate inside a jar of hair gel.
A further search of Mr Toeava's cell uncovered more illegal drugs, including 2.1 grams of a substance that appeared to be methamphetamine.
Cash and cell phones were also discovered.
The five men are in custody with bail set at $US20,000 each.
