Five arrests, more cocaine seized in Vava'u raids [1]
Friday, July 30, 2021 - 18:01. Updated on Friday, July 30, 2021 - 18:05.
By Linny Folau
Five more packets of cocaine were seized last night by the Tonga Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce, during a raid of a home in Ha'alaufuli, Vava'u.
This makes a total of 11 cocaine packets, includng the first six handed over to Police, after being washed up on the beaches at Höleva and Ha’alaufuli.
Police estimate the total street value of the illicit drugs recovered to be over $4 million pa'anga. Police suspect that more of the washed-up drugs are still in the community.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Halatoa Taufa of the National Crime and Investigations said today the Drugs Enforcement Taskforce last night raided three residences, two in Ha'alaufuli and 'Utulangivaka and a third in Tongatapu.
He said at the residence in Ha'alaufuli three people were arrested, with five packages of cocaine seized.
They included a 28-year-old man, his 30-year-old wife, and a 61-year-old man. They have been charged with possession and engaging with others in the supply of illicit drugs, he said.
‘Utulangivaka
The second home raided was at ‘Utulangivaka, where Police arrested a 27-year-old man and seized approximately one gram of cocaine and an unlicensed .22 rifle and ammunition.
Related criminal charges have been laid against him.
Nukunuku
The third was a 38-year-old man arrested at a home in Nukunuku, Tongatapu.
He has been charged with engaging with others in the supply of illicit drugs. He was from ‘Utulangivaka and had only recently arrived in Tongatapu from Vava’u.
"We suspect that some of the washed-up drugs are still in the community. I urge, yet again, any member of the public who has in their possession any of the washed-up cocaine to do the right thing and surrender the drugs to Police."
Appropriate police resources had been deployed to hunt down anyone who dared to hide or distribute any of the washed-up cocaine, said A/D Commissioner Taufa.
"We will continue to make arrests, if you choose not to cooperate. We can work together as one people to protect our children, families and communities from the harmful effects of drugs. Contact Police if you know any information that would help.”
Meanwhile, the washed up cocaine reported yesterday had six bricks of cocaine (five in Ha'alaufuli and one at Holeva).
The weight of the haul is still being measured by Police.
Police can be contacted on 740-1660 or 922.