Kisina Neiufi (28) was sentenced to 21-months imprisonment for possession of 3.11 grams methamphetamine seized by Police, who received information that he was selling from his car in 'Utulau. 

His 35-year-old half-brother, Sione Pongi, who pleaded guilty to one count of failure to comply with a lawful request by a police officer, had his sentence fully suspended.

The two men were sentenced last month by Hon. Mr Justice Cooper at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

Neiufi had pleaded guilty to possession of the methamphetamine, possession utensils and failure to comply with a lawful request by a police officer.

The judge said, on 14 July 2021 at around 4:00pm, police received information suggesting that Neiufi was involved in the sale of illicit drugs from his car in 'Utulau. 

They were located at a rugby field in the vehicle in question. Pongi was in the front passenger seat, Neiufi in the driver's seat. 

“The officers moved in to detain both men. This was not met by their immediate compliance. Neither defendants remained seated. Police restored order shortly and a search was able to take place.”

He said a sum of cash was seen to fall from Neiufi's possession. A test tube and two packets of what, later was established to be methamphetamine, were recovered from the driver's seat and a further quantity of cash was recovered from the driver's door compartment. 

The police tracker dog also searched the car, which led to the recovery of seven empty snap bags from between the front seats of the car and a further packet of methamphetamine and a wallet. 


That wallet contained a further five empty snap bags and $94.

In addition, the cash that fell from the possession of Neiufi, including from the driver's door compartment, and in his wallet was $6,374 pa'anga.

The weight of the methamphetamine seized was 3.11 grams. 


An aggravating feature was that although on a small scale this was plainly commercial supply. 

The judge sentenced Neiufi is to 21-months' imprisonment but suspended the final 12-months for two-years on conditions. 


Pongi, on the other hand was sentenced to 10-months' imprisonment, which was fully suspended for two-years, on conditions including community service.

"If either defendant breaches the terms of their suspended sentence, or Mr. Pongi fails to complete his community service they may end up being re-sentenced and serving a custodial term for that breach."

The judge said for Neiufi this was his first custodial term. 

“But given the amount of money; that there was commercial supply of methamphetamine, the terrible harm this drug does and the lives it ruins in Tonga, the need for denunciation and deterrence is paramount.”