A 47-year-old man from Vaini was jailed for cultivating cannabis and having in his possession firearm and ammunition without a license. 

Paea He Lotu Ta’ufo’ou was convicted on five counts that included possession and cultivation of the illicit drugs, possession of ammunition without a license and possession of arm without a license. 

Hon. Mr Justice Cato on November 1 sentenced him to a total of 20-months imprisonment, with the final eight-months suspended on conditions.

The Supreme Court heard, on December 26, last year 26 police officers from the Tonga Police Drugs Taskforce Unit executed a search at a tax allotment belonging to another person, at Vaini.

As a result of the search, eight cannabis packs, seven cannabis plants, one .22 rifle, 306 .22 rifle ammunitions and 
three 223REM ammunitions were seized.

The accused who was present at the search admitted that he owned the illegal goods found, except for six of the cannabis plants. However, he was convicted on the counts.

The judge ordered for the illicit drug to be destroyed with the firearm and ammunition forfeited to Police.