It must be some type of record but not a record to be proud of. Police have charged 14 people including four women with meth-related charges. That is perhaps the greatest number of people ever to be charged for a drug matter in Samoa and ironically, all 14 were in the same spot.

Aisa or methamphetamine, is slowly spreading like cancer in our society and it will detrimentally impact the nation. When a patient is found to have cancer in the early stages, surgical procedures and or chemotherapy ensure the removal of cancer from its root. If it is found in the later stages then as in most cases, it is deemed terminal.

The nation knew about the prevalence of meth for some years now. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the number of people charged with meth importation, sale, and possession with the intent to use. The use is spreading and there is a meth dealer in most areas, selling death to adults and children.

To think there were 14 people together, congregating almost one kilometre away from the Samoa Police Headquarters. This shows the organised structure of the meth business. A few years back, the term organised crime was something we saw on television or in the movies only, now see it unfold before your very eyes within the community. In this criminal structure, there are the kingpins, then they have their henchmen and then the runners. Organised like a business. This is a very dangerous thing.

The Samoa Police know about this too well. Police have even mentioned the interest of gangs in New Zealand in setting chapters in Samoa for the sale of meth. It is a lucrative industry and the larger a gang’s organisational structure, the more share of the market they will take, most likely by force.

As is seen now in New Zealand, the gangs are clashing and people are also being killed. Homicide rates in New Zealand are the highest. This is a possible effect of the narcotic mixed with the gang culture.

There are admissions by people in Samoa that high schoolers are also using meth. There are ‘death dealers’ who even ask random people in town if they are looking for the drug.

The correlation between meth and violent crime has already been proven. This is just not limited to fights and killings, there will be a rise in burglaries and robberies.

The synthetic drug market has continued to expand and evolve, reaching all corners of the world. Pacific island countries and territories, which are located between two of the largest drug markets, namely East and Southeast Asia and the Americas, are not immune to the challenges arising from the growth of the methamphetamine and ketamine markets and the emergence of other synthetic drugs.

Two issues make meth particularly concerning. First is the link between meth and violent crime. When a community has a meth problem it typically sees increases in related violent crime on a number of fronts, to include gang and child welfare-related issues. Second is the fact that meth addiction is very difficult to treat. Meth treatment options are very limited and the treatment does not have a great success rate.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, meth has the unique ability to impact well beyond the individual user. DEA said the use of meth is not only highly destructive to the body and mind, and but it’s incredibly addictive, dangerous to innocent children and others nearby, often has detrimental effects on the local economy, crime rates, and the infrastructure of communities.

The 2020, the New Zealand Government invested NZ$20 million in regional programmes to reduce the damage methamphetamine use was causing to families, businesses, communities and economies.

Authorities in New Zealand found that meth use was killing regional New Zealand. Community and industry leaders told the Government of the deep and widespread impact it was having.

People who used drugs could not get and sustain employment impacting families, local employers who need a reliable workforce and ultimately the regional economy.

In 2019, New Zealand Police seized a staggering 1.8 tonnes of meth, three times as much as the previous year. In the first half of 2020, Police busted 38 clandestine meth labs.

No labs have been found in Samoa but if this cancer is not treated that day is not far away. There is a need to create awareness in people about the impact it will have not just on a person but on society and ultimately the nation.

The is a ‘white’ elephant in the room and it has to be dealt with. It is a cancer and if left untreated, it will be something hard to get rid of.