Results for Police and Crime

Seven people have been arrested in the seizure of 37.44 grams of methamphetamine and cannabis at a home in Vaini on February 6.

A 25-year-old Tongan man who overstayed in Australia on an expired visa, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment last Thursday by the Mildura Magistrates’ Court in Victoria, after he pleaded guilty to assaulting and damaging the property of his ex-girlfriend, as well as resisting police and carrying a weapon.

A 25-year-old woman was found dead at a home in Sopu on Tuesday evening, January 28.

The four men who were arrested with cocaine and cannabis at ‘Umusi on Saturday, January 25 remain in police custody. They will be named on their appearance in court on February 3.

King Tupou VI opened a new Vava‘u Police Station in Neiafu on January 24, constructed with $1.3 million dollars assistance from the New Zealand and Australian Governments. At the ceremony, Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said the facility “strengthens our fight against drugs”, which is his number one priority.

A 25-year-old man from 'Utulau died on Tuesday, January 21 when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a tree on Halaliku Road at around 2:10pm.

Two men arrested in the seizure of illicit drugs and illegally importing firearms and ammunition in separate Tonga Police operations in Vava’u, have been released on bail.

Taniela Lopiseni Salakielu (23) of Nevada, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the U.S. District Court in Utah for the beating death of a father of four children, Rand Hatch (50), in the Utah town of Bountiful in late 2018.

Three people were arrested with illicit drugs and illegally imported firearms and ammunition in separate Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce operations over the last week in Vava'u and Tongatapu.