3 Tongans charged over seizure of 10 illegal firearms and more than 20,000 ammunition

The Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce in a joint operation with Customs intercepted 10 illegal firearms and over 20,000 live bullets, smuggled into Tonga through four different shipments from America in the first week of July.

Three shipments were seized at the Custom Warehouse in Vava’u and one shipment was seized from one of the bondage Warehouse in Tongatapu.

Police arrested three men in relation to these shipments.

The suspects are a  43-year-old man from Kameli Vava’u, who has been charged with the importation of firearms and over 20,000 various ammunition without licence and  a 45-year-old man from Leimatu’a.

The third suspect is a 74-year-old man from Neiafu who has been charged with  importation of firearms and ammunition without licence.

Police said they are concerned with the significant amount of firearms and ammunition that have been smuggled into the country and the risks they pose to community safety.

The public has been urged to come forward with any information that will help with police investigations.

 

Photo supplied 

     

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