Man charged with failing to declare US$20,000 at airport [1]
Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 18:14. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A man has been charged for illegally bringing into Tonga USD$20,000 after arriving at Fua'amotu International Airport on Tuesday, June 12 on a flight from Fiji.
Assistant Police Commander 'Atelaite Soakai said Asian man was charged under Tonga's Money Laundering Act, on June 15, for allegedly failing to declare the funds on his arrival document when he arrived in Tonga with five other people on a flight from Fiji.
The money was confiscated by Customs and handed over to Treasury. This was the result of close working relationship between Tonga's Transnational Crime Unit and Fiji, she said.
The accused is understood to be a frequent traveller to Tonga but no further details were released.
He appeared in court on Monday June 18 and his case was adjourned to July 2.