Two men have been arrested and charged in relation to the seizure of five rifles at Veitongo, Tongatapu, on February 2.

Police Prosecutor Mema Latu said on February 21 that a man from Lapaha is charged with unlawful importation of five rifles into Tonga, and another man from Nukuleka is charged with concealing the unlawful firearms. He named the woman who was initially charged with unlawful possession of the rifles last week as 'Ofeina Fifita (33) from Houma, living at Haveluloto.  A police investigation discovered that the rifles were all new and were smuggled unlawfully in a box by sea cargo into Tonga. Police were alerted by a member of the public who said that the woman was trying to sell the firearms in Tongatapu, which resulted in the police executing a search warrant.  On February 2, police found three 410 rifles, one 22 rifle and one 306 rifle at a town allotment in Veitongo and arrested the woman.  The three suspects are to appear in the Magistrate's Court in Nuku'alofa on Monday, February 27.