Surveillance of the Vava'u waterways by the Tonga Customs Department will be given a speed boost with the arrival of a new speedboat this month.

The 5.8 meter speedboat, specifically designed for border patrol, and worth AUD$100,000, is a donation from the Australian Overseas Aid Agency, AusAid. The boat will be officially handed over by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Alexander Downer, to the Tongan Minister of Finance and Controller of Customs, Hon. Siosiua ...‘Utoikamanu, on April 21 while Mr Downer is in Tonga on an official visit.

Tonga Finau, the Deputy Head of the Tongan Customs, said that there was a great need for the surveillance boat for Vava'u which lacked the proper port of entry facilities that the Nuku...’alofa harbour has.

The new boat is one of the measures taken by the Tongan Customs to further tighten their control over Tonga...’s harbours under their Border Security Operation program.

"The Customs Border Security Operation that was launched in February has been very effective and we are continually improving our strategies and facilities towards tightening our border patrols," said Tonga Finau.