Results for Police and Crime

Siale Havea (45) of Houma remains missing sea since he first went out diving or underwater fishing at Fahefa, Tongatapu on Friday night, 31 March. A Police Search and Rescue continues, however an aerial search of the Houma coastline by a police drone has not discovered anything to date.

A 31-year-old man from Ha'asini was arrested after a police pursuit, after he was alleged to have been distributing illicit drugs. Two others, including a 14-year-old teen were arrested later.

A 25-year-old man was arrested in relation to the seizure of illicit drugs, including 1.81 grams of methamphetamine at a bush allotment, on 23 February.

Tonga Police is upskilling police officers in the operation of drones acquired through the Illicit Drugs Response Fund (IDRF) to support police operations. Commissioner of Police, Shane McLennan said that the high tech equipment will be useful for other police operations such as search and rescue, traffic control, and public order management.

A forensic grade data training course is being held for Tonga Police investigators to improve not only their technical capability but that of the region in the fight against crimes, from 14-17 February. Forensic grade data extraction devices (cellebrite, that can extract the contents of cell phones) were supplied for 12 Tonga Police investigators, through the British High Commission in partnership with Australia.

A total of 3.2 tonnes of cocaine estimated to be worth more than half a billion dollars, intercepted by New Zealand authorities floating in the Pacific Ocean, is one of their single biggest seizures of illegal drugs. The unidentified location was described as “north east off New Zealand, six-days sailing in distance and in international waters,” they told a press conference today.

A 17-year-old youth from Tatakamotonga sustained serious injuries when he was hit by a vehicle, while he was crossing Taufa'ahau Road at Nualei yesterday.

There was no foul play involved in two deaths investigated by Tonga Police last year, in cases that involved a woman who died in a house fire in Vava’u and a man whose body was found in his car under the sea at Tu’imatamoana Wharf on Tongatapu. Meanwhile, another drowning death in Vaipua Harbour is being re-investigated by Tonga Police.

A man from Ha'asini has been arrested and charged in relation to a hit-and-run fatality at Nualei in November 2022.