Results for Illicit Drugs

Tonga Police raided a Kolomotu'a residence and arrested two men (aged 35 and 38 years) on 20 September.

A 45 year old man who exported methamphetamine from Tonga is the first person to receive a mandatory life sentence under a tough new drugs law. Nomani Kama Manulevu (45) from Nukuhetulu was sentenced to life imprisonment for the unlawful exportation of 29.7 kgs of methamphetamine that was concealed in a refrigerated container to New Zealand in 2021. 

Two people have been arrested and charged in relation to the seizure of 0.81 grams of methamphetamine from a rental car at Pahu in Nuku'alofa.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the seizure of 27.76 grams of methamphetamine at Ma'ufanga on 12 May.

A 28-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman from Matahau have been arrested for allegedly importation of over 1kg of methamphetamine from the United States, last month.

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.

Eight local people in Vava’u were sentenced to between three years to 13.5 years imprisonment for their opportunistic roles in handling blocks of cocaine from a large shipment, found washed up on 'Otualea Beach there in 2021. They were caught in an investigation that started when children at Holeva picked up a brick of cocaine on the beach and handed it in to authorities.

Four men were found not guilty on possession of methamphetamine after a drug testing report was ruled inadmissible. The illicit drugs were alleged to have been seized on 23 December, 2022 at Tu'atakilangi.

Siaosi Helu (36) was sentenced to four-months imprisonment of possession of illicit drugs, namely of 0.47 grams of cannabis in Nuku’alofa in 2021. His co-accused Akuila 'Aho had his sentence fully suspended. 'Aho was found not guilty on a further charge after evidence from drugs testing was ruled inadmissible.