Tevita Tupou was sentenced to three-years and ten-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, in two offences committed last year on Tongatapu.

Hon. Mr Justice Cooper sentenced him on 26 April, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, after he entered early guilty pleas.

The judge said both charges related to possession of significant quantities of meth (6.78 grams), 4.27 grams of cannabis and drugs utensils. 

The judge said at the foot of the bed was a wardrobe and under it was a black pouch. A police dog alerted the officers to the area of the pouch. 

The pouch contained 37 packs of methamphetamine in dealer snap-bags and a larger quantity in a single bag, three small bags of cannabis and a larger quantity in a single bag. One set of electronic scales, two straws and 29 empty snap-bags.

A test tube, a pipe for smoking methamphetamine was hidden in a speaker array, wrapped in tissue paper and partly obscured from sight under some playing cards. A bong was tucked between a wooden box and the wall of his room and not immediately visible. 

The second offence was on 3 June 2021, when police again received information that the defendant was at a cemetery in Hofoa to sell drugs. 

He said the defendant was found sitting on a grave and in the sand beneath where he was, were four bags of methamphetamine. The total weight was 3.96 grams. 

The judge said the aggravating factors were the commercial supply and he committed the secnd offence while on bail. He also had previous offences for drugs possession in 2020. 

Tupou sentenced to three years and 10 month's imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on conditions for two-years.

The drugs and paraphernalia were orded to be forfeited and destroyed.