Siaki Tongatu'a (40) from Tu'atakilangi has been charged with suspected drug related offences and further detained in custody, after appearing at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court on Monday, November 14.

Tonga Police alleged the accused owned a rifle, ammunition and an illicit drug suspected to be methamphetamine, that were seized on Saturday morning, November 5 from a rental car.

The three men were arrested after police intercepted their rental car in Havelu after a member of the public reported a gunshot fired from the car at around 3:00am on Saturday morning.

Police confiscated one .22 rifle, 31 x .22 live ammunition rounds, five ammunition shells and 24.41 grams of illicit drugs suspected to be methamphetamine from the car.

The men who have been similarly charged with possession of an illegal firearm and illicit drugs are expected to appear again in court next week.