Tough Drug Laws Coming For Samoa

Written by Pio Sioa
Monday, 06 October 2008
Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, Illegal drug offenders can serve up to a lifetime in prison, if Parliament passes tough new amendments to Samoa’s Narcotics Act. The amendments already have the endorsement of Cabinet which approved a submission from the Attorney General’s Office, recommending the new amendments. If passed by Parliament offenders convicted of hard drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine or ice, gets locked up for a maximum penalty of life behind steel bars. The court is also likely to slap a 14-year jail sentence on anyone found guilty of dabbling in lesser drugs like marijuana. The recommended penalty is double the current 7-year maximum jail term for marijuana conviction. Convictions of other lesser drug charges are to be set as high as 7 years. The Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, is hopeful that the tough stance his office is proposing, will serve a deterring effect on the fight against the illegal drugs problem. “ Relatively speaking, compared to New Zealand it is similar to the penalties there,” AG Aumua defended when asked about the severity of the penalties. “If we are to look at other countries where the penalty is death (for hard drugs convictions) I think it is not that harsh. “The response here is really to stop these drugs, especially these hard drugs like cocaine from coming into the country. We’ve had a few cases and we don’t want to encourage people into bringing these drugs in.” Part of the need to amend the Narcotics Act is to slap a legal ban on more sophisticated forms of illegal drug dealing that involves scientific knowledge of the chemical make up in normal medication drugs. The amended section of the Narcotics Act will make it illegal to deal in substances referred to as precursors. “Precursors are substances used to manufacture narcotics,” AG Aumua explained. The substance is extracted from legal tablets or other forms of medication for common illnesses like sinuses. Precursors can be bought in large quantities and used to manufacture hard drugs like methamphetamine or ice. A regional meeting to learn more about the substance and the necessary policing commitment from the various enforcement agencies, was held at the Hotel Insel Fehmarn last week. The meeting is the third so far, after the first two organized by the Australian Attorney General’s Department in Australia. “Not many people know about precursors…a list of precursors are readily available on the Internet and once the public becomes fully aware the next step is how to control their use.” AG Aumua revealed that the new amendments if passed makes it illegal to store in large quantities or process precursors for the purpose of manufacturing narcotics. Unless passed by Parliament the Narcotics Act does not consider precursors illegal if used for the purpose of manufacturing banned drugs or narcotics. Another area of concern identified from on going regional meetings is the threat of using Samoa or other island countries by organized crime as a transit point to get into New Zealand or Australia. Organised crime will find if hard to do that if there is legislation, as it is being recommended now, that makes it illegal for precursors to be stored in Samoa in large quantities. Samoa may already be ahead of the region in response to taking the necessary legal precautions to prevent or control against drug trafficking or the manufacture of narcotics. AG Aumua is hopeful that others in the region will follow suit and be more proactive rather than reactive. “I think the more recent example is that big factory discovered in Fiji where it was actually found to be producing methamphetamine.” Comments (8) Subscribe to this comment's feed Lifetime in prison for drugs? written by sau, October 06, 2008 I would hate to rain on the parade of the AG and his intention to put someone in prison for life for doing drugs. I think that's redicilious! You're telling me the cabinet will approve such hanious and stupid law? Yet we have rapists, child molesters and murders in our country that only serve five or six years in prison? I'm in no way encourage any drugs activities for that matter but let's be realistic about it and let the crime fit its punishment. I don't want to make a mockery of our beloved country, but let's not fool anyboby by such a hanious laws. God bless Samoa and it's people! its about time ! written by homeboy, October 06, 2008 I hope the new amendment will pass , and it's about time to put the reality to those idiots who damaging the samoan youths . I say lelemo them i le moaga is good punishment . Sorry ! Sau , i understand your point but i think they shouldl evaluate the serious of those crimes you commented . I'm sure they are working to improve and pass higher sentences for such criminals. I JUST HATE DRUG DEALERS !. Punishment shoud fit the crime! written by Another Samoan-American, October 06, 2008 1st offense of a drug charge 14 years? Whether you are a user, found in possession of drugs with or without the intent to sell or sale of narcotics all must be penalized differently. How many offenses for the same charge? This should be considered also. Repeat offenders stiffen the penalty. Precursors, what about those patients who need presribed medications and receive their health care from abroad? How will they be protected by this new law? Will we now see the poor, sick and the elderly be held up in jail cells until their packages have cleared customs inspection? WTH! read the article ! written by homeboy, October 07, 2008 The article is not talking about medical drugs such as anti-biodics or drugs for sickness , it talked about cocaine , meth , ice ,you know (narcotics) elligal drugs . You dont treat patients with those drugs . Read the artical again. I totally support a serious punishments sentence to those who are dealings and participatings. I dont support it written by samoatulai, October 07, 2008 Maybe Im too paranoid to think of the life imprisonment and 14 yrs in jail... I think in some extreme cases, this may lead into people abusing power, setting up somebody you dont like.. Who knows it may lead into corruption in the authorities, bribing comes to mind and if it happens... how much $$$ will it involve... Im not saying that this is happening, but it is highly probable if not possible!!! For those who support it... Have you really thought about it? what about if this happens to your brother for instance... you dont have to answer , if it does I bet you'll be regretting supporting that hardliner approach, just food for thought... I agree with you Sau... Almost every week there must be news for either a child molesters, a pedophiles or a rapist that deserves tougher punishments... its just disgusting,,, drugs affects the user and I say its more of a personal choice,,, molesting, raping have victims!!! horrendous pathetic crimes DONT OVERREACT It affects everything associated with it! written by Robert, October 07, 2008 Harsh punishment for the top of the pyramid producers and pushers that create and distribute narcotics! The users should have some sort of abuse calculations of how many offenses, like a 3 strike rule and your go’o goes away for a good long time. Narcotic pushers, users and especially the producers affect everything that they surround themselves with in society. I’m talking about theft, crimes, illiteracy, influence on the young minds to portray the use, selling or producing of narcotics, cost on the people and government to combat this narcotic disease that turns cancerous in villages and homes. Then prostitution, destroying of homes where mothers are having children with no father figure in the homes, one only needs to remind those of the ghetto projects anywhere outside of lovely Samoa. The list goes on my Samoan brothers and sisters. Get the picture? Pass it! Work out the kinks as you go along. At least these thugs will know there is a law in place to put them away for a long time when they play with mea lele. Soifua, I did read the article but did you do the same and did you COMPREHEND what was written? written by Another Samoan-American, October 08, 2008 To Homeboy: Precursors are substances used to manufacture narcotics, AG Aumua explained. The substance is extracted from legal tablets or other forms of medication for common illnesses like sinuses. Precursors can be bought in large quantities and used to manufacture hard drugs like methamphetamine or ice. Homeboy, I understood what I read, did you? READ CAREFULLY next time! Take care! my bad ! another samoa american. written by mike.t, October 09, 2008 precursors consider another type , but the real meth contain some other ingredients . i dont think there is a problem with your question , coz prescriptions should have labels and patients name on them , also they can call and verify with their phycisians . Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Monday, 06 October 2008 )

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