Gold jewellery seized by customs officers [1]
Friday, March 17, 2017 - 19:03. Updated on Friday, March 17, 2017 - 19:03.
Tonga Customs seized more than $230,000 pa'anga worth of gold jewellery along with cash, a firearm and ammunition on Saturday, March 11 during an operation led by Tonga Customs at a business and home in Nuku'alofa.
It is alleged that the items came from Asia and were smuggled into the country through passengers of commercial flights, without being declared at the border.
More than 50 members of the Tonga Customs, Inland Revenue and enforcement officers executed search warrants at two locations in search of uncustomed goods during what they called "Operation Sparkling".
In a statement they said Items seized included the uncustomed jewellery items worth over $230,000, cash and cheques over $6,500 pa’anga, herbal medications, electronic devices, one firearm and 1480 ammunitions.
It is alleged that the jewellery included 9-22 carat gold jewellery with diamonds and pearls located at the house with price tags varied from $100 to $1,600 pa'anga.
The business, which was not named, is reported to has been operating for more than six-years, while Tonga Customs alleges it had no customs records of jewellery imports by the owners.
The case remains a Customs operation. Tonga Police has not made any arrests and charges in relation to this case.