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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Results for Illicit Drugs
Monday 6 September 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 3 September 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Kepilini Pole’o was found guilty of possessing 0.13 grams of methamphetamine seized at a residence in Vaini, after Tonga Police raided a house, after receiving information that drugs were being sold from there. Lord Chief Justice Whitten QC found the accused guilty on the possession offence on September 1, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court
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Friday 27 August 2021
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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Friday 27 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A suspended Tonga Police officer ‘Isitolo Sakopo (30) and Kaniteli Guttenbeil (32) were each sentenced to one-year 10-months imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine.
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Wednesday 25 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siosaia Fifita (33) was sentenced to two-years imprisonment for possession of 2.36 grams of methamphetamine and 3.14 grams of cannabis. He was caught after Tonga Police received information he was driving around Nuku'alofa selling illicit drugs.
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Monday 23 August 2021
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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Monday 23 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sosefo, aka Sione Poteki, who was driving around Tongatapu armed with a gun, while in possession of illicit drugs for sale was sentenced to three-years seven-months imprisonment.
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Thursday 19 August 2021
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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Wednesday 18 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Misivina Tatakamotonga was sentenced to seven-years eight-months imprisonment for possession of illicit drugs, including 99.47 grams of methamphetamine. The judge said it was gravely concerning that the defendant's true activities were not reflected in the indictment and there appeared to be scant investigation into the dealer list. He urged the investigating authorities “to reflect on what lines of enquiry can properly be pursued."
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Tuesday 17 August 2021
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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Thursday 12 August 2021
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
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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Tuesday 10 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Four of the seven accused in Vava'u, including three foreign nationals were denied bail at the Magistrate's Court in Neiafu on August 9. They remain in police custody as investigations continue. Meanwhile, Tonga Police made more arrests last week in relation to the cocaine packages that washed up on Vava'u beaches recently.
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Friday 6 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Magistrate’s Court in Neiafu is expected to hear the cases of those arrested in relation to the cocaine haul that washed up on Vava'u beaches. The cases will be mentioned on Monday, August 9.
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Wednesday 4 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
More arrests have been made in relation to the cocaine haul in Vava'u last week. Matangi Tonga understands today the latest arrests included that of a foreign national in Tonga.
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Wednesday 4 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tipiloma Funaki (52) from Fua’amotu has been jailed for possession of 0.25 grams of methamphetamine and 108.33 grams of cannabis, seized at a house in Hauloto.
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Tuesday 3 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siueli Angilau (42) was today found guilty of possession of 0.55 grams of methamphetamine seized by Tonga Police after received they information that illicit drugs were being sold from a little house in Fanga.
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Tuesday 3 August 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Filo ‘Aholelei Vaiangina (55) was sentenced to 46-months imprisonment for possession of 19.31 grams of methamphetamine, seized inside his van at Pahu.
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Friday 30 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five more packets of cocaine were seized last night by the Tonga Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce, during a raid of a home in Ha'alaufuli, Vava'u. Eleven cocaine packets, including six handed over to Police this week, have been recovered after being washed up on shore. The total street value of the illicit drugs recovered is now estimated to be over $4 million pa'anga. Police suspect that more of the washed-up drugs are still in the community.
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Wednesday 28 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Siaosi Helu was today found guilty of unlawful possession 0.04 grams of methamphetamine found hidden inside his tight pants, during a routine body search by Police, when arrested for public drunkenness.
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