Results for Police and Crime

Two people have been confirmed to have drowned last week in Vava’u, a 17 year old youth, and a 30 year old woman in separate incidents.

The Tonga Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce made 32 arrests over the Christmas holiday period between 20-29 December, where a total of 30.48 grams of methamphetamine, 72.74 grams of cannabis, 3.11 grams of cocaine, and drug utensils were seized at various locations on Tongatapu. Most of those arrested are being held in Police custody.

More than 300 Tonga Police officers are working around the clock during the police operation for the Christmas and New Year holidays, which started yesterday, December 20. Tonga Police also reminded the community to take extra care when going out in the heat and hot sun at this time of year with temperatures forecast to reach 31C.

A prisoner at Hu'atolitoli Prison was charged with possession of cannabis last week, and another charged with cultivation, while in a separate incident, a man from Matangiake was arrested after Tonga Customs seized a hand gun and ammunition that was imported to Tonga.

A total of 24 people have been charged as a result of a six-month joint investigation by the NZ Police’s National Organised Crime Group and NZ Customs investigating vulnerabilities at the New Zealand border. In August, five people were arrested, after a container sent from Tonga was found to contain 30kgs of methamphetamine at the Auckland Port.

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Neiafu, Vava'u, as Tonga Police seized 254.72 grams of cocaine. Another man was arrested with a .22 long rifle and ammunition in Longomapu.

Eight vehicles procured by the Tongan Government were handed over to Tonga Police and other enforcement agencies in their work to fight against the problem of illicit drugs, on October 27.

Criminal prosecutions in Tonga's Supreme Court since the beginning of 2018 have been increasingly drug-related cases. Out of a total of 930 criminal prosecutions, 529 were drug related, while 123 were arms and ammunition prosecutions.

Three Tongan nationals who are in Australia on working visas will appear in court on Wednesday in New South Wales mid-north coast, accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a park over the weekend.