Tongan police officer arrested in drug bust [1]
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 - 21:58. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
TONGA police seized 6.5 kilograms of controlled chemicals used for the production of methamphetamine and arrested six people at three different locations in Tongatapu on July 1.
The five men and one woman arrested included four Chinese nationals, one Taiwanese national and one Tongan police officer. They are expected to appear at the Magistrate's Court on July 8.
Police Commissioner Chris Kelley in a joint Crime Report with the Acting Deputy Commander 'Unga Fa'aoa today July 5 said he regretted to inform the public that the arrested Tongan, "is a member of the Tonga Police."
He said the substances had been taken to Auckland for analysis and preliminary tests indicated the substance was pseudo-ephedrine, a chemical used in the production of methamphetamine.
Tonga Police working in partnership with New Zealand Police and Customs both in New Zealand and in Tonga, made the arrests after careful investigation last month.
"Tonga Police believed this disruption activity has prevented the establishment of a methamphetamine laboratory here on Tongatapu," said Commissioner Chris Kelley.
The operation came at the end of a very busy month for Tonga Police who made 195 arrests in June, in which 63 people were arrested for violence related matters, 40 people were arrested and charged with housebreaking, six in relation to liquor offences and six men were arrested for fighting.
Drug bust
Earlier in February of this year police successfully investigated the sale, supply and distribution of illicit drugs on Tongatapu and a 55-year-old Tongan man and a 20-year-old Tongan woman were arrested and charged with the possession of four kilos of illicit drugs.
In September 2010 police seized 17.6 kilos of methamphetamine worth NZD$17-18 million, during Tonga's largest drug bust of this kind.