A jury has found Viliami Mangisi (59) guilty on two counts relating to the seizure of 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine at Fua‘amotu International Airport, in 2018.

The would-be meth exporter, has been remanded in police custody for sentencing on November 15.

Mangisi (also known as Kini), from Ha‘avakatolo, was represented by Sifa Tu'utafa. He pleaded not guilty to attempted export of an illicit Class A drug, namely methamphetamine, and possession of the illicit drug, and denied the allegations in Court.

However, the jurors in an unanimous decision found him guilty on Wednesday, October 23.

Crown’s case

The Crown represented by Tevita 'Aho called witnesses and presented documentary evidence.

The Crown's case was that on May 8, 2018, Mangisi called Samuela Fonua (they knew each other) and asked him if he could take a package to the airport for him. They knew each other.

Fonua who is currently a serving prisoner in relation to this case, was at the time a cleaner at the airport, had given evidence for the Crown.

The Court heard, at around mid-day, Mangisi met Fonua at the Si’i-Kae-Ola supermarket parking lot in Nuku’alofa. 

Mangisi gave Fonua three small bags and instructed him to take the bags and put them in a storeroom at the airport's departure lounge. Mangisi would then retrieve it, when leaving that night to New Zealand on an Air New Zealand flight.

The Crown said, Fonua had asked of the contents in case he would get into trouble and Mangisi assured him that it was nothing that would get him in trouble.

At around 1:00pm, Fonua arrived at the airport with the three bags and proceeded to put them where Mangisi had instructed him to. This storeroom was formerly the men's bathroom.

However, there were two other cleaners at the departure lounge at this time, and one of them asked Fonua what he had brought in.

Fonua said it belonged to Kini and that he did not know the contents. Fonua then took the three bags and left them in this storeroom. While he made his way there, his movements were observed by the two cleaners.

When Fonua left, the two cleaners then went in the storage room and searched for the three bags that Fonua carried.

When they found the bags they opened it and noticed numerous small plastic bags containing white crystalized substance. They reported this to their supervisor, who passed the information to Police.

The Police arrived at the airport and saw the bags and suspected it was methamphatamine.

70 packets

A total of 70 packets of the white crystalized substance were in the three bags.

Police then got hold of Fonua and questioned him about it, and he said it belonged to Mangisi. Fonua, also said he was going to pick up Mangisi from his home in Tatakamotonga and take him to the airport for his flight. 

Police  told Fonua to continue with that plan. He was shadowed by a Police officer.

At around 8:30pm, Fonua picked up Mangisi followed by investigating officers in a private vehicle. Mangisi asked him about the bags and whether anyone knew about it, which he said no.

The Court then heard, when they got to the airport, Mangisi went and checked in, while Fonua went to the departure lounge to wait for him. When Mangisi entered the departure lounge and took a seat, he was joined by Fonua.

At this time, the police officers were observing them.

Mangisi went to the storeroom and found it locked and called Fonua to tell him. Fonua got the key and opened the door for him, then left. Mangisi went into the storeroom, and after a while one of the police went into the storeroom. 

The officer saw Mangisi zipping his carry on bag and then he headed to the sink, before calmly making his way out of the storeroom.

At this time, the other police officers blocked the door and searched the carry on bag, to find the packets containing the white substance.

Mangisi was arrested.

The white substance was sent to New Zealand for testing and was confirmed to be methamphatamine.

The jury trial started on October 14, before Hon Mr Justice Cato.