An increase in Tonga Police drugs operations and special operations in the financial year 2023-24 has seen the number of illicit drug-related offences increase, along with dramatic increases in Class A drugs and cash seizures, compared to the previous year. Traffic offences reached an all-time high of 16,704 offences, according to the Tonga Police Annual Report 2023-24 released this month. Meanwhile, public order offences, including drunkenness, public disturbance, and disorderly and abusive behaviours, collectively saw a 26.7% increase, while domestic violence reports increased threefold.
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Results for Police and Crime
Tuesday 19 August 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Monday 18 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Multiple arrests were made by Tonga Police units, responding to information that illicit drugs were being distributed in the Fonongahina area of Tongatapu.
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Thursday 14 August 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three people were arrested on Monday for possession of methamphetamine and utensils, during a Tonga police Drug Enforcement Unit operation at a residence in Ha'alalo, in Western Tongatapu.
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Tuesday 29 July 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man and a woman from Halaleva in Tongatapu were arrested yesterday during a police investigation into housebreaking and the theft of Tongan koloa valued at $20,300 pa'anga. The accused remain in police custody and were scheduled to appear in court on 4 August 2025.
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Friday 25 July 2025
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Washington D.C., U.S.A
A former US mormon missionary, who served in Tonga, was arrested yesterday, 24 July, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on charges related to the exploitation of minors who had been entrusted to his care. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation so far has identified 14 minor victims throughout Tonga in offending that began in 2017. William James Purdy of West Valley, Utah, was arrested by Tonga Police in October 2022 but fled the kingdom before his scheduled trial.
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Wednesday 16 July 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five people aged between 15 and 55 years were arrested on this week, during several drug operations conducted by the Police Drug Enforcement Unit across Tongatapu. Authorities also seized items included cannabis plants, methamphetamine, drug utensils and cash.
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Monday 7 July 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two Tonga Police operations on Tongatapu last week resulted in the arrests of three women and a man on separate charges related to the possession of illicit drugs, drug-related utensils, and possession of ammunition without a license.
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Thursday 19 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 38-year-old male from Ngele’ia was arrested by Tonga Police's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and charged for possession of illicit drugs and drug utensils on Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
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Monday 16 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 21-year-old female driver from Kahoua, was arrested and charged by Tonga Police in relation to a reckless driving incident. The incident was posted to social media and it gained widespread attention on 12, June.
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Thursday 12 June 2025
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Nuku’alofa
A 27-year-old man from 'Anana was arrested for possession of illicit drugs and drugs utensils, in a police operation yesterday, 11 June.
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Monday 9 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Forty-two individuals were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and public intoxication, during a Tonga Police weekend operation.
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Wednesday 4 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over the weekend, more than 50 individuals were arrested during a series of Tonga Police Weekend Safety Operations. The arrests were made for various offences, including driving under the influence and illicit drug-related activities.
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Tuesday 3 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 21-year-old male Tonga Police probationary constable was arrested on Saturday, 31 May for possession of illicit drugs. During the same drug operation in Nuku'alofa, two other men were also arrested for allegedly selling drugs.
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Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A party involving over 100 individuals engaging with alcohol and loud music in a bush allotment in Mataki’eua was disrupted by Tonga Police during the early hours of Saturday, 17 May. In response, Police closed parts of Mataki’eua Road, expressing concerns of potential risk to agricultural crops, livestock, and the safety and well-being of the participants themselves.
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Tuesday 27 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 79-year-old Fijian woman died at a hotel in Nuku'alofa on 17 May. There are no suspicious circumstances.
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Thursday 22 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The death of a 31-year-old man found in Ma'ufanga last week, on 14 May, has been ruled as a suicide, Tonga Police said.
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Thursday 22 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tu’ifua Angilau who was found guilty on possession of 1.95 grams of methamphetamine last year failed to win his appeal against conviction, when the Appeal Court found there was no miscarriage of justice in a judgment delivered on 16 May in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of ten officers from Tonga Police departed on Saturday, 10 May, for Brisbane Australia, embarking on a four-week training program that is accredited by the United Nations.
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Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The new Commissioner of Tonga Police, Geoff Turner was officially sworn into office yesterday, 12 May, at the Tonga Police Headquarters, in Nuku'alofa.
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Thursday 8 May 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 20-year-old male suspect, Kasi Tukuhaukava, from Fangaloto, is currently being sought by Tonga Police for failing to appear in court in relation to charges of housebreaking and theft. Tonga Police issued a photo of Tukuhaukava with a request for the public to report his whereabouts.
