An appeal by the Crown against a three-year fully suspended sentence imposed on Kapeni Tamo’ua on charges, including possession of 3kgs of cocaine in the Vava’u haul was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Nuku’alofa.
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Results for cocaine
Friday 6 October 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 5 October 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Andrew Motuliki (28) was sentenced to seven and a half-years imprisonment for supplying cocaine that washed up on beaches in Vava’u in 2021. The court heard that he played a significant role, when he involved others for reward, as he had some understanding of the scale of the operation.
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Thursday 6 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Uaine Palesi Fa (27) was sentenced to imprisonment by the Appeal Court, after overturning his suspended sentence initially imposed by the Supreme Court in 2022, for possession of 28.55 grams of cocaine in Vava'u.
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Wednesday 8 February 2023
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Auckland, New Zealand
A total of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine estimated to be worth more than half a billion dollars, intercepted by New Zealand authorities floating in the Pacific Ocean, is one of their single biggest seizures of illegal drugs. The unidentified location was described as “north east off New Zealand, six-days sailing in distance and in international waters,” they told a press conference today.
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Thursday 20 October 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A prolific offender, ‘Okusitino Langi (49), who is serving a lengthy prison term for drug offences, received additional time for similar offending in prison, totalling nine-years imprisonment, after being sentenced on 14 October. The Lord Chief Justice said the circumstances of this offending were troubling. “For the defendant to have been able to possess and sell drugs in prison suggests real operational deficiencies in security within the prison.”
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Friday 24 June 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Petelo Mo’unga (25) was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment for possession of 26.98 grams of cocaine and 0.07 grams of methamphetamine.
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Tuesday 3 May 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five people have been arrested and charged in relation to drug busts at different locations. A 27-year-old man was arrested with 28.69 grams of cocaine in Ha'alaufuli in Vava’u.
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Friday 31 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce made 32 arrests over the Christmas holiday period between 20-29 December, where a total of 30.48 grams of methamphetamine, 72.74 grams of cannabis, 3.11 grams of cocaine, and drug utensils were seized at various locations on Tongatapu. Most of those arrested are being held in Police custody.
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Wednesday 8 December 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Okusitino Penisimani Tatafu (49) is the man who was arrested in Neiafu, when Police seized 254.72 grams of cocaine on November 14. He remains in police custody, until January 2022.
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Thursday 25 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 49-year-old man who was arrested in Neiafu, after Police seized 254.72 grams of cocaine has been charged with possession of illicit drugs.
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Tuesday 23 November 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 49-year-old man was arrested in Neiafu, Vava'u, as Tonga Police seized 254.72 grams of cocaine. Another man was arrested with a .22 long rifle and ammunition in Longomapu.
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Tuesday 28 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 24 people who were arrested in July and August and charged over the seizure of an alleged 14 kilograms of cocaine in Vava‘u are pending their court appearances. No new arrests have been made.
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Monday 6 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 24 people have been arrested and charged, to date, in relation to the estimated 14 kilograms of cocaine seized in Vava‘u. More cocaine was seized in the latest three arrests in Vava'u and Tongatapu.
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Friday 27 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 21 people have to date been arrested and charged in relation to the estimated 14 kilograms of cocaine seized in Vava’u, after two people were arrested at Ta'anea, Vava'u on August 23.
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Monday 23 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 19 people have been arrested to date and charged in relation to the estimated 14 kilograms of cocaine seized in Vava'u. The four new arrests were made by Tonga Police last week.
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Thursday 19 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The cases of five accused charged in relation to the cocaine seized in Vava'u have been adjourned to October 4, at the Magistrate's Court in Neiafu. The other accused remain in police custody. A total of 15 people (12 in Vava'u and three in Tongatapu) have been charged to date.
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Tuesday 17 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two men, aged 25 and 44 years, were arrested in Tu'anuku, Vava'u; and a 50-year-old man was arrested in Tatakamotonga, Tongatapu, last week. This brings the total to 15 people, arrested to date and charged in relation to 14 kilograms of cocaine seized in Vava'u.
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Monday 16 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
More arrests have been made in relation to the cocaine haul seized in Vava’u, said Tonga Police today.
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Thursday 12 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The three foreign nationals who were arrested and charged in relation to a cocaine haul in Vava‘u, were today released on bail, at the Magistrate's Court in Neiafu. Robin and Brenda Cox, and Calvin Manuceau will be called to appear in court again on August 17.
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Wednesday 11 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The cocaine haul seized in Vava’u has been weighed at just over 14 kilograms, with an estimated street value over $5 million pa’anga, Tonga Police said today. Twelve people have been charged in relation to the haul.
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