Four men were sentenced to prison for the cultivation and possession of 3894 cannabis plants at a substantial plantation in Matahau on May 4, 2017.

Firearms, including a .22 semi automatic rifle, .22 calibre long rifle and six ammunitions, were also seized from the plantation during the police operation.

Hon Mr Justice Cato in sentencing on May 29, said the Supreme Court is experiencing an increased number of drugs prosecutions recently.

He said three of the four namely Siua Fakahua, Tevita Fusitu’a and Siaosi Brown, whose roles were guards and assistants at the plantation, pleaded guilty to the possession and cultivation charges.

Huni was sentenced on each of the possession and cultivation of the illicit drug counts to five-years and five-months imprisonment to be served concurrently but backdated to when he was remanded in custody.

For possession of the unlicensed firearm, he was sentenced to two-years and six-months, and six-months for possession of unlicensed ammunition, served concurrently with the cultivation count.

The judge stated that the plantation was a professional operation conducted by Huni with the assistant of the other prisoners and was capable of developing into a significant commercial cultivation.

"I do not find him as a candidate for rehabilitation. He committed these offences not long after he had completed a suspended sentence for drug offences. He was instrumental in corrupting the others who were young men to assist in the plantation," he stated.

Teen guards

On the three teen guards, Fakahua who was 17 at the time of the offence was sentenced to two-years imprisonment on both counts of possession and cultivation.

He was a first time offender but gave evidence for Huni, which the judge found to be unconvincing and adversely affected any credit he might get for contrition.

Fusitu'a who was 18 at the time was sentenced to two-years and three-months imprisonment on both offences of cultivation and possession.

He had a previous conviction for drugs which he received a sentence of probation.

Meanwhile, Brown who was 17 at the time similarly received a sentence of two-years and three-months for similar offences.

The court heard that he had a history of drug abuse and had been a patient of forensic psychiatrist Dr Mapa Puloka in connection with drugs.

All three had the final nine-months of their sentences suspended on strict conditions and their sentence backdated to when they were first taken into custody.

The judge said more cases of drug offending were coming before the court in the last couple of years, not only for cannabis related offending but even more serious methamphetamine offending.

"It may be that this is the result of the police concentrating more resources on drug investigation but whatever the reason, this court is experiencing an increased number of drug prosecutions."

The cannabis were ordered to be destroyed.