Four Tongans named in related cannabis bust and meth scam [1]
Friday, August 19, 2011 - 17:37. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
NEW Zealand and Tonga Police have confirmed there is a connection between the Tongan male charged in relation to the cannabis bust in Tongatapu and the alleged methamphetamine scam that saw three Tongan men charged in Auckland. The men were named in court appearances this week.
Michell Tukia (38) living at Fasi appeared at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate' Court on Wednesday, August 17, after he was arrested in a joint operation by Tongan and New Zealand police that seized 83 pots of young cannabis plants at Nualei, on August 12.
The accused, who was the occupant of the premises at Nualei, appeared before Chief Police Magistrate Folau Lokotui who ordered that he be kept in police custody pending a second court appearance on Monday, August 22.
The accused is charged with the possession and cultivation of the illicit drugs.
The Acting Police Commissioner had earlier in the week said that the joint operation had uncovered a plot by Tongan and New Zealand nationals in both countries who were conspiring to import large quantity of illicit drugs into New Zealand.
New Zealand
At the same time New Zealand media reported the arrest of three Tongan men in an alleged methamphetamine scam that is linked to the cannibis arrest and bust in Tonga.
The three Tongans are William Wolfgramm (40) a former Tonga rugby league international player, Peter Tanginoa (37) a former Tongan rugby union international player and Angus Naupoto (34) a former manager of the Tonga Rugby Union team.
The three men are charged with conspiracy to import a Class A drug, as they allegedly believed the methamphetamine from Tonga was genuine.
New Zealand police alleged the trio were negotiating with a supposed Tongan drug syndicate who convinced them there was meth in Tonga. But the methamphetamine was fake and New Zealand police officers believed this was a bid to con money from the three men.
Detective Inspector Bruce Good of the Auckland Police Drug Squad said people involved in the cannabis drug bust at Nualei on Friday, August 12 were allegedly part of the methamphetamine scam.