More than a thousand marijuana plants were seized by the Police at Samalaeulu Savai'i on Wednesday morning after the authorities were tipped off by the public.

This confiscation of the illegal drug was confirmed by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Prisons and Corrections, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo in an interview with the Samoa Observer. 

Auapaau said that Police were able to discover the marijuana plantation courtesy of members of the public who reported the incident.

The Police officers descended on the area at Samalaeulu to effect the search early Wednesday morning with the Acting Police Commissioner saying it was their largest haul for the big island.

“I think this is the first time a [large in scale] marijuana plantation has been discovered in Savaii, I cannot recall anything before but this is the first time a plantation of over a thousand plants was found,” Auapaau said. 

The search led to the discovery of a marijuana plantation and a total of 1,152 marijuana plants were seized.

Additionally three weapons were discovered at the site and have also been seized by the Police. 

The Acting Commissioner said that the seizure of the marijuana plants has also led to the arrest of two men.

The two men have been arrested in relation to this morning police narcotics search, one of them is aged 35-years-old while the other is a 23-year-old.

Police also revealed that both men are from Samalaeulu, Savai'i and will be charged criminally with possession and cultivation of narcotics.

“Police carried out their normal duties and found the plantation, and it was discovered at Samalaeulu, Savaii on Wednesday morning," Auapaau said.

“The marijuana plants are with police until court has decided a verdict on the two individuals that were arrested and we will wait for a court order for the destruction of the marijuana plants.” 

He said the individuals are currently being held in Police custody at the main headquarters in Tuasivi, Savai'i and possible charges include cultivation of narcotics.  

 “We credit and thank the public for reporting this to us for their support and for helping us with important information for police which has led to the discovery of these things.”

He also confirmed that no one was injured during the Police operation.

In a statement, the Samoa Police acknowledged members of the public for their ongoing support by reporting illegal activities to the police.

“Keeping Samoa free of illicit drugs," read the Police statement.