A 50-year-old man of Tongan/Australian origin has been charged in relation to the illegal importation of 288 cartons of Manchester brand tobacco without health warnings.

A joint press release from Tonga Police, Ministry of Health and Australian Federal Police (AFP) today said the man was arrested and charged with three counts of importing tobacco products without health warnings and made for Tonga labels in contrary to the Tobacco Control Act 2000. The tobacco, shipped in a 20-ft container consisting of 2.88 million sticks, was seized with a search warrant issued by the Magistrate's Court on the same day.

 A joint investigation by the Tonga Customs, Ministry of Health, Tonga Police and the Australian Federal Police into the trade of illegal tobacco, which involved falsifying invoices and tax evasion had resulted in the arrest. Tonga Police initiated the joint operation in close collaboration with AFP on 31 March.

The investigation is continuing because it is linked to other international investigations and it is possibility that more charges will be laid, the police stated.

Tupou Tuilautala a Senior Tobacco Enforcement Officer said this operation and arrest was made with co-operation between local and international agencies.

The Acting Police Commissioner ‘Unga Fa’aoa said Tonga’s law enforcement agencies would continue to work with international partners to ensure illegal products do not reach our shores or streets, by disrupting the supply of illegal products.