Security at the Faleolo International Airport have been beefed up with more sensors and security guards at both the arrival and departure lounges of the airport.

A Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A.) staff member, who is not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the build up in security at Samoa's main international gateway and indicated that more personnel and resources were deployed starting last month.

The staff said the incident involving a 24-year-old woman from Nofoalii, who managed to evade airport authorities and board a Fiji Airways flight to Nadi on Christmas Eve last year, compelled the authorities to increase capacity and resources at Faleolo.

"It is a wake up call for us too because we've seen security guards at the scanning paying more attention now to their responsibilities which gives us the confidence that this [stowaway woman] will not happen again," he said.

The increase in the number of personnel has specifically focused on the airport's departure lounge with more security guards deployed to selected areas between the boarding pass checkpoints and the air bridge leading to the aircraft. 

The increase in security guards' presence at the airport also comes on the back of the approval of a permanent police unit at the airport last month by the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services.

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, told this newspaper last month that the Fiji Airways stowaway incident was a wakeup call and prompted the deployment of a police unit to boost security at the airport. 

“We reviewed our processes and have assigned the team at the airport,” Auapaau said. “Under International Civil Aviation law there should be police stationed at the international airport which we have moved to do. 

“We are finalising an office space at the airport with Airport Authority [S.A.A.] for our airport team to be stationed at so they are able to offer support for our international airport security.” 

Meanwhile, Police have recommended charges be laid against a woman who slipped past security at Faleolo International Airport and boarded a flight to Fiji last December.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti said following an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division (C.I.D.) they have reached a conclusion for charges to be filed.

Papalii said C.I.D. has recommended charges be filed against the woman for allegedly breaching civil aviation regulations as well as the Immigration Act.

She said they are currently awaiting confirmation on whether the charges will be pursued by the Samoa Airport Authority or handled by the Police.