The 12th defendant to be sentenced for being involved in distributing a portion of a salvaged shipment of cocaine washed up in Vava'u in 2021, was sentenced five and a half-years' imprisonment, partially suspended, for engaging in dealings with another person to transfer a Class A illicit drug to Tongatapu.
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Results for Vava'u cocaine
Friday 8 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 6 October 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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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Tuesday 4 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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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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Tuesday 10 August 2021
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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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