Lafitani Mahe has been found guilty at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on possession of 1.4 grams of methamphetamine seized at Pili.

Justice Langi convicted the accused of the offence, in a verdict released on January 2.

The Court heard that on July 8, 2019 at around 5:08 pm, police received reliable information from an informer that there was drug dealing going on at the home of Talia'uli Fatongiatau.

A quick surveillance of the area confirmed that Fationgiatau was inside his vehicle with two other men.

The judge said, given the urgency ofthe matter, police had to act quickly and the Drugs Taskforce proceeded to Fatongitau's home without a search warrant.

When police arrived at the home, Fatongiatau was inside his vehicle with the accused and a person named, Ue'ikaetau Tapa'atoutai.

When the offenders realized that the police were there, the accused and Ue'ikaetau got out of the vehicle and ran.

A police officer managed to apprehend Ue'ikaetau and yelled out to the accused to stop. The accused stopped and turned around and was apprehended by police.

The police officer then went& to the area where the accused had stopped running and found one plastic bag containing four small packs of methamphetamine.

ESR in New Zealand tested and confirmed the substance was methamphatamine.

The Judge was satisfied, on the evidence heard, that the circumstances in this case called for quick action by the police and a search without a warrant was required to ensure that illicit substances were not destroyed or hidden.

The search was therefore lawful.

"I also find that the prosecution have proven that the accused was in possession of the four packs of methamphetamine beyond any reasonable doubt."