Drug crisis hits Sāmoa as families caught in growing Pacific trade

Drug use is tightening its grip on families in Sāmoa, with leaders warning the crisis is now playing out inside homes.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt says the situation has reached a troubling point.

“The worst now is the involvement of parents and children who love, sleep and consume the drug under the same roof,” he says, according to Talamua Media.

That reality is driving a stronger response from authorities trying to stop drugs before they reach communities.

Last week, customs officer Benjamin Milo and detector dog Willow joined the Sāmoa Joint K-9 Unit after completing specialist narcotics training in New Zealand with two newly certified handlers.

Officials say the expanded dog unit will help intercept drugs at the border and support operations on the ground.

PM Laaulialemalietoa was the first to be tested in March when government rolled out its drug-testing policy. Photo/Savali Newspaper

“They also support domestic law enforcement operations, including police raids and intelligence-driven interventions,” customs official Lealataua Sophia Lafai-Oloapu said.

Minister of Customs, Masinalupe Leatuavao Makesi Pisi, said the expansion strengthens Sāmoa’s ability to respond to changing threats.

“As challenges of transnational crime continue to evolve, this support is both timely and critical,” he said.

A K-9 Unit dog detection demonstration during PM Christopher Luxon's visit to Sāmoa in March. Photo/Savali Newspaper

The push comes as drug flows across the Pacific continue to grow, with Sāmoa and New Zealand stepping up cooperation.

“A problem in New Zealand is a problem in the Pacific and vice versa,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the signing in Apia last month.

The deal aims to improve joint operations, intelligence sharing, and training as both countries work to disrupt supply chains linked to organised crime.

Sāmoa is also tightening its own systems. Mandatory drug testing has been introduced for public servants and new government job applicants.

Laaulialemalietoa has already taken a test himself and is calling on others, including senior officials, to do the same.

Police are increasing enforcement, with recent raids leading to charges involving methamphetamine and marijuana.

Watch the official ceremony for the new members of Sāmoa's joint K-9 unit below.

The police have also been publicly naming those as part of their updates.

Within the police force, compulsory drug testing is now in place - from recruitment through to random and post-incident checks.

Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga says the aim is to maintain public trust and ensure officers are fit to serve.

The changes reflect a wider effort to respond to what officials describe as an escalating problem.

Across the Pacific, governments are facing similar pressure. New supply routes are expanding through the region, adding strain to nations with limited resources.

Watch the welcome for Detector Dog Willow and handler Officer Benjamin Milo below.

Research from Massey University’s SHORE and Whariki Research Centre shows methamphetamine supply is increasingly linked to Pacific Islands.

“This is fuelling organised crime and corruption and serious negative health and social impacts in the Pacific, including growing injecting and infection rates of HIV, but also family harm and community stress,” Professor Chris Wilkins said.

For Sāmoa, the message is clear: this is no longer just a border issue. It is a problem affecting families, communities, and the region as a whole.