Sione Senituli Lave [30] was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.11 grams possession of methamphetamine, seized on Hihifo Road in October last year.

Justice Langi sentenced the accused on November 13, after he pleaded guilty in October at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

The Court heard on October 19, 2019, police received reliable information that drug suppliers were using their vehicles to sell drugs, due to the increase in police targeting their homes.

As a result, a joint operation led by the Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce and the Traffic Department was held at vehicle check-points to find and seize illicit drugs from drug targets and vehicles.

On the day of the offending, police set up a check-point in front of the gas station at Hofoa on Hihifo Road.

At around 2:00am, they noticed a silver rental car heading towards them. They stopped the car and identified the driver, Viliami Palei as one of the drug suppliers that their informant had told them was selling drugs from his vehicle.

Inside the car were Palei, the accused and two other men. Police told them to get out of the vehicle, and when they did the accused turned and ran. Police chased him down and brought him back to the vehicle.

The accused was searched and police found one packet of methamphetamine inside the right rear pocket of his trousers.

The accused is a first-time drug offender.

The judge sentenced the accused to six-months, which she fully suspended.

This on conditions that Palei is placed on probation, must complete a Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Program/Life Skills Course and carry out 40-hours of community work.

“I believe that an order for community service is appropriate for sentences that are fully suspended even for minimal amounts. This is to convey to anyone who deals with drugs that they will not get off lightly and they are not to get the wrong impression that just because they are not going to prison that the offence was not serious.”

The accused, who is married with children, lives in Fo'ui.