Previous Story
FBI to phase out American Samoa operations
All Federal Bureau of Investigation operations and investigative efforts in the U.S. territory of American Samoa will now be handled by the FBI office in Honolulu, Hawaii, according to Vida G. Bottom, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Honolulu Office yesterday.
The decision for this consolidation was made by the U.S. Congress who cited budgetary reasons.
“The FBI is committed to continuing our investigations into issues of national security and federal criminal activity on American Samoa,” Bottom said. “However, budgetary realities can no longer justify staffing an office on American Samoa full time.”
The Honolulu division of the FBI conducts investigations on several islands in the Pacific, including Tinian, Rota, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai, where no permanent FBI office exists.
The FBI’s American Samoa office opened in 2006 as a satellite of the Honolulu field office. During that time, many high-profile public corruption, civil rights and violent crime investigations have resulted in criminal convictions. The FBI’s office on American Samoa will be phased out gradually over the next few months as equipment and supplies can be moved to Honolulu.
American Samoa residents who wish to report criminal activity or national security concerns to the FBI should contact the Honolulu field office at 808-566-4300. (FBI)
By Press Release
