NZ court jails Tongan men for importing Meth [1]
Friday, November 8, 2019 - 10:32. Updated on Friday, November 8, 2019 - 10:33.
Heavy prison sentences were dished out by the New Zealand High Court yesterday, to four men of Tongan and Niuean descent, for importing Methamphetamine into New Zealand from the United States.
Tevita Sitanilei Kulu, Tevita Matangi Fangupo, Halene James Ikiua and Toni Rajendra Finau, were found guilty of importing methamphetamine through the postal service from California in the United States.
According to the New Zealand High Court, Kulu and Fangupo smuggled in 12 packages of meth in from California between June 2017 and January 2018. Seven of the packages containing altogether 18.9 kgs of meth were detected by New Zealand and United States border protection.
On November 7 Kulu was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment and Fangupo to 17 years imprisonment, all eligible for parole after serving half of their prison sentences. Lighter sentences were delivered to Toni Finau and Halene Ikiua for being involved in the drug smuggling operation. Halene Ikiua received three and half years, for allowing his business address to be used to receive drugs, while Finau received eight and a half years imprisonment for disrtibuting the drugs.
The four were supported by their families in court.