Results for drugs

Problematic students in Tonga, including absentees, have increased alarmingly in 2021 compared to 2020, Deputy CEO Ministry of Education, Kalafitoni Latu said during his presentation at the Tonga National Symposium on Illicit Drugs on October 6. “The students that are absent from school are more likely to be vulnerable to the illicit drug problem.” Many come from broken homes and we need to pay attention to these figures, he said.

A 33-year-old man was arrested with 11 packs of methamphetamine (4.02 grams) on Vuna Road at Ma’ufanga on Wednesday, 7 October.

Three people were arrested with illicit drugs and illegally imported firearms and ammunition in separate Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce operations over the last week in Vava'u and Tongatapu.

The illicit drugs case against Sione Filipe Jr has been adjourned again to November 18 at the Fasi Magistrate's Court.

Tonga's drugs problem is on the rise, “like a cancer in the community,” says Psychiatric Specialist, Dr Mapa Puloka, who warns that government is too slow in tackling the epidemic and needs to urgently prioritize more funding before it gets out of hand. He issues a stark prognosis: “If they can’t stop it...what will happen is drug dealers or drug lords will run our government and end up being their puppets because of the power of money.” By Eleanor Gee.

Six men arrested with cannabis and firearms have been charged after the execution of multiple search warrants at three different locations in Tongatapu.

Two men were arrested at a home in Kolomotu’a last week in possession of methamphetamine or "ice", during a search warrant executed by Tonga Police.

A 40-year-old man from Tu'atakilangi, one of three who were arrested and charged in suspected drug related offences, has been detained in custody. Tonga Police said today that he is alleged to have been the person who owned a rifle, ammunition and an illicit drug suspected to be methamphetamine, seized on Saturday from a vehicle.

Police have arrested and charged a 17-year-old man after 41 cannabis plants and seeds worth an estimated street value of around $10,000 pa’anga were seized from a tax allotment in Fua‘amotu this week.