Filo ‘Aholelei Vaiangina (55) was sentenced to 46-months imprisonment for possession of 19.31 grams of methamphetamine, seized inside his van at Pahu.

Hon. Mr Justice Cooper sentenced him today at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court, after he pleaded guilty to the serious offence.

The Crown said on February 28, 2020 Police received credible information that someone was going around in a grey van selling drugs.

On that same night, Police received further credible information that the accused was selling drugs from the grey van and was at a residence in Pahu. When Police arrived there, they saw a grey van parked outside, with the accused in the driver’s seat.

The methamphetamine was inside a zip lock plastic bag seized with $4,669 pa'anga found inside the van.

The judge in sentencing Vaiangina to 46-months (three-years 10-months imprisonment) suspended the final year for two-years, on conditions.

The accused from Talasiu did not have any previous convictions.  

Police were ordered to destroy the illicit drug with the seized cash forfeited to the Crown.