$2 million meth case in Supreme Court [1]
Monday, February 25, 2019 - 18:18. Updated on Friday, May 14, 2021 - 16:22.
Viliami Mangisi (59) charged in the seizure of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of around $2 million pa’anga is to appear at the Supreme Court in March.
The Tongan national was charged with possession after he was arrested with 1.9kg of the illicit drug in the departure lounge at Fua’amotu International Airport on May 8, 2018.
The Magisrate Court's office confirmed this case will be called on March 18 before a Supreme Court judge, after being committed from the lower court last month.
Meanwhile, his co-accused Samuela Fonua, a cleaner at the airport charged in relation to abetting this offence, also had his case committed to the Supreme Court.
Police had earlier alleged that Mangisi intended to smuggle the illicit drug to New Zealand before he was arrested. Cash in different currencies valued at around $10,000 was also seized.