Siaosi Kalohihea (28) and wife Louena (25) were sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, which was fully suspended, by a Supreme Court judge who urged Tonga Police to catch the main supplier to stop the “scourge of drugs” in the community.

Acting Justice Hon. Tupou sentenced the accused, after they pleaded guilty to possession of 0.38 grams of methamphetamine and 0.57 grams of cannabis.

The Court heard on May 13 last year Police carried out a search warrant at the couple’s residence in Tofoa. The search targed stolen electronic devices and illicit drugs. 

Police had received reliable information that stolen electronic devices were pawned to the accused couple's residence in exchange for illicit drugs. 

The couple were present when Police arrived and did the search.

Catch the supplier

The judge said, the offending is a scourge in society
 and the drugs were found together with drug utensils, namely smoking test tubes. 

“We have seen the good work in recent times done by the Police in arresting many for possession of illicit drugs. In the present case, like the comparable cases in the submission from the Crown Prosecutor, the weight of the drug A received is less than one gram. This puts those accused persons at the end of the chain of drug users,” he said.

"The main supplier needs to be caught to stop the spread of drugs in the community."

Meanwhile, in an analogy he said the drug trade is like a tree. The tap root is the manufacturer and supplier. The roots are the first level of suppliers. The branches are the next suppliers who could be users also. The leaves are the end users the trunk would be the money gathered from the sale of illegal drugs. 

"If the Police can get the taproot, that would be the most effective way of stopping the drug trade. For Tonga, the taproot is most likely to be overseas. Next, the root could be overseas also. We need to get the person in Tonga who is receiving the drugs from overseas to stop the spread of drugs to the leaves of the tree end users."

“In this case we have a man and his wife who were caught by the police on investigation to have 0.38 grams of methamphetamine and 0.57 grams of cannabis.”

There were electronic devices found together with the drugs, which the Police suspected had been pawned  by users for the supply of drugs, but there was no further evidence to support their suspicion and only $49.00 cash was found. 

The accused both pleaded guilty and were first time offenders. 
 

The judge sentenced them to six-months imprisonment each, which was fully suspended on conditions. This included remaining crime free, being placed on probation and they must complete a course on drug and alcohol abuse directed by the Probation Officer with the Salvation Army.

The judge warned them if they did not comply with any of the conditions of the suspended sentence they would be liable for imprisonment for the term of suspended sentence.

The drugs were ordered to be destroyed.