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American Samoa Government - PR002-11192025
Posted: November 19, 2025
American Samoa Government Announces Auction for Export Only
of Seized Vehicles from China
FAGATOGO, American Samoa - The American Samoa Government Customs Division has announced that the auction for export-only is now underway for 47 vehicles imported from China, which were seized for failing to meet the United States transportation and safety regulations. This Vehicle Bid Auction will be conducted strictly for export purposes only. Because the vehicles do not comply with the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which apply in American Samoa as a U.S. federally funded jurisdiction, they cannot be operated, registered, or used on American Samoa roads or any roadway within the U.S. The American Samoa Code, further provides that if the consignee fails to file a claim in the High Court, under ASCA § 27.1042(c) the vehicle will be deemed forfeited and ownership transferred to the American Samoa Government.
The seized vehicles are available for public viewing at the Customs Warehouse in Tafuna until November 24 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). The auction is taking place on the field between the Customs Warehouse building and the main road in Tafuna.
This will be a sealed-bid auction, and all bids must be submitted to the Office of Property Management by 12:00pm on November 24, 2025. Successful bidders will be required to make a 10 percent payment upon notification, with the remaining balance paid in full before vehicles are exported.
Participants are encouraged to review the Vehicle Bid Auction Data Sheet, available via QR-code on the official auction notice, for complete rules, requirements, and documentation needed to take part in the auction.
As this auction is designated for export only, all vehicles purchased must be shipped off-island to destinations outside U.S. jurisdiction. Because these vehicles do not meet federal safety standards, they cannot be registered or driven in American Samoa or anywhere within the United States. Following the auction, all vehicles will remain with Customs. Buyers are responsible for arranging direct shipping, and vehicles will be released solely from Customs to the authorized vessel for export. This procedure ensures transparency and upholds the integrity of the export-only requirement.
For additional information, inquiries, or clarification, the public is encouraged to contact the Office of Property Management at 699-6505, or visit the Customs Office in Tafuna.
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Ua Tatalaina e le Mālō o Amerika Samoa le Fa’atauga o Ta’avale
mo le ‘Auina Atu i Fafo, o Ta’avale ua Ave’ese Fa’aletulafono
na ‘Auina mai Saina
TAFUNA, Amerika Samoa - Ua fa’asilasila mai e le vaega o le tiute le fa’atauina o ta’avale e 47 na fa’aulufale mai Saina, ma ua ave’ese fa’aletulafono mai ona ua le mafai ona tausia aiaiga o tulaga o femalaga’iga o le Unaite Setete ma aiaiga puipuia. O lenei fa’atauga ta’avale ua na’o ta’avale o le a auina atu i fafo, aua o ni ta’avale e le’i usita’ia ia alafua o tulaga puipuiga o ta’avale o le Malo Feterale, e pei ona faia e Amerika Samoa, aua o le Pulega fa'a-lemalo a le Unaite Setete, o le ala lea e le mafai ai ona fa’agaoioiina, resitalaina, pe fa’aaogaina i alatele o Amerika Samoa po’o nisi lava alatele o le Unaite Setete. O le Tulafono a Amerika Samoa, ua fa’amaonia ai, afai e le’i faila e le tagata na auina maia le ta’avale se tagi i le Fa’amasinoga Maualuga, i lalo o le Tulafono § 27.1042(c) ona aveese faaletulafono lea o ta’avale ma ua fa’aliliuina le pule i le Malo o Amerika Samoa.
O nei ta’avale ua aveese faaletulafono, ua avanoa mo le maimoaga a le lautele i le faleteu’oloa a le vaega o le Tiute i Tafuna, sa amata ia Novema 18 i le 9:00 i le taeao se’ia pa’ia Novema 24 i le 12 i le aoauli. O lenei fa’atauga ta’avale o lo’o fa’ataunu’uina i le fanua o i le va o le faleteu’oloa o le vagea o le tiute ma le alatele i Tafuna.
O lenei fa’atauga ta’avale o le a fa’amaufa’ailogaina, ma o tauofoga uma e ao ona tu’uina atu i le ofisa o Pulega o Meatotino i le 12:00 le aoauli, ia Novema 24, 2025. O e o le a fa’amanuiaina latou tauofoga, e faia se 10 pasene e totogi muamua pe a fa'ailoa atu, ae totogi atoa le paleni o totoe pe a auina atu i fafo ta'avale.
E fa’amalosia sui auai uma, o loo avanoa fa’amatalaga e uiga i le fa’atauga o ta’avale, i luga o le QR code o le fa’asilasilaga aloaia a le ofisa, auā ia tulafono atoatoa, o mana’oga, ma fa’amaumauga e mo’omia aua le fa’atauga ta’avale.
Ona o lenei fa'atauga ta’avale ua fa'atulagaina mo na'o le auina atu i fafo, o ta'avale uma e fa'atauina e tatau ona lafo i fafo atu o le nofoaga o lo’o iai le Pulega a le Unaite Setete. Ona o nei ta'avale e le ausia tulaga fa'atonuina o le saogalemu a le Feterale, e le mafai ona resitaraina pe fa’agaoioiina i Amerika Samoa po'o so'o se isi lava mea o le Unaite Setete. A maeʻa le faʻatauga ta’avale, o le a tumau pea ta’avale i le Ofisa o Tiute. E nafa le Ofisa o Tiute ma le faʻatulagaina o fela’ua’iga tuʻusaʻo, ma o le a tuʻuina atu taʻavale i le vaʻa ua faʻatagaina mo le auina atu i fafo. O lenei faiga e faʻamautinoa ai le manino ma tausisia le tulaga saʻo o manaʻoga mo naʻo ta’avale e auina atu i fafo.
Mo nisi fa’amatalaga, o fesili, po’o se fa’amalamalamaga, e fautuaina le lautele e fa’afeso’ota’i le ofisa o Pulega o Meatotino i le 699–6505, pe asiasi atu i le Ofisa o Tiute i Tafuna.
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