Tonga Customs officers crushed 13,272 bottles of Australian Yellowtail Wine at the Nishi Quarry, in Nuku'alofa on the morning of December 3.

The Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Peter Nash stated that the wine was imported illegally to Tonga by the Tonga Rugby League.

"A the time of importation, Tonga Rugby League did not possess a business license to import alcohol or a trading licence to sell the wine, and as a consequence the shipment was seized.

"The shipment was also grossly under-valued for customs purposes, by approximately $62,500 pa'anga. This was an obvious attempt to circumvent revenue payments and licensing controls," said Peter, adding that the Customs would continue to take decisive action against illegal imports of goods to Tonga

The crushing of the 13,272 bottles of wines is the toughest action that has been taken by the Customs Department since the formation of a Task Force to investigate the illegal importation of alcohol to Tonga.

The Task Force is working hand-in-hand with the Liquor Licensing Authority, which is responsible for the issuing of licenses for the sales of alcohol. Both are both manned by representatives of Customs, and the Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industry.

Peter stated that the establishment of these two bodies ". . . are positive steps to help alleviate the problem of alcohol abuse through tighter control of the importation and the distribution of alcoholic products."

Rugby League

Meanwhile, Sosaia Moehau, the president of the Tonga Rugby League was very disappointed when he was told by Matangi Tonga Online that four truck loads of wine had been put through the rock crusher at the quarry.

"That was a donation from a brother of the owner of the wine company to the Tonga Rugby League.

"We could not pay the duty up front so the cartons were stocked in a Bond Warehouse, and we paid the duty as we took them out from the warehouse."

Saia said that since the arrival of the shipment in July they had fulfilled the licensing requirements of Customs, "but they were still not satisfied, and we are awaiting a court decision, but now they have destroyed the wine. What a waste! They could have auctioned the wine since government is in need of revenue."

Saia said that government has no allocation of funds for the Rugby League.

"The donor gave the wine for the Tonga Rugby League with a good heart, but now they have destroyed it, he will be very disappointed.

"If they have destroyed 13,272 bottles, that is the lot," said Saia.