Drug Arrests

Tonga police arrest 32 people over drug offences

A total of 30.48 grams of methamphetamine, 72.74 grams of cannabis, 3.11 grams of cocaine, drugs utensils, and over $7,000 cash were seized during the arrests.

Detective Acting Deputy Commissioner, Halatoa Taufa, told Matangi Tonga online that two of the arrests included two male prisoners at Hu'atolitoli Prison found with 1.74 grams of meth and 3.11 grams of cocaine.

The other arrests were made in various locations around Tongatapu including Tofoa, 'Anana, Fanga, Veitongo, Tu'atakilangi, Folaha, Kolonga, Ha'akame, Nukunuku and Tatakamotonga.

Nine arrested over illicit drug-related offences in Tonga

The suspects were arrested in Tongatapu during a Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce sting targeting drug dealers and suppliers last week.

On Thursday 24 September, the Drug Taskforce arrested a 45-year-old man at his residence in Houmakelikao and seized 9 packs of methamphetamine (2.3 grams), drug utensils and cash.

A day later, police arrested a 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman from their residence at Kolonga and seized 0.31 grams of methamphetamine, 0.58 grams of cannabis, drug utensils and cash.

Four in custody in Tonga Police crackdown on illicit drugs

Last weekend, officers from the Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce arrested a 28-year-old man from Kolofo’ou, who was involved in an accident at Pelehake.

During the arrest they seized 0.50 grams of cannabis and drug utensil.

On Monday, Drug Enforcement Taskforce arrested two men aged 40 and 31 from Pili and Ma’ufanga at a house in Ma’ufanga.

A 32-year-old woman of Hala’ovave was also apprehended during a search.

Officers seized five packs of methamphetamine (1.77 grams), $1,332.00 pa’anga in cash and drug utensils.

Six people arrested with illicit drugs in Tonga

The arrests took place between Thursday 21 and Sunday 24 May 2020 from six different locations in Tongatapu, in an ongoing operation targeting drug dealers and suppliers.

A 38-year-old man from Ha’akame was arrested by the Drug Taskforce on Thursday 21 May at Ha’akame with 1.09 grams of cannabis, one revolver pistol, one live bullet and drug utensils.

Following this arrest the Drug Taskforce arrested two men at Ma’ufanga on Friday 22 May, a 31-year-old man from Ma’ufanga and a 38-year-old man from Houmakelikao, with 0.70 grams of methamphetamine and 1.69 grams.

Three teens among 14 suspects arrested for illicit drugs in Tonga

A total of 14 people were arrested from eight different locations in Tongatapu between Friday, 15 May and Wednesday, 20 May 2020.

Police seized 4.93 grams of methamphetamine, 33.15 grams of cannabis and drug utensils during these arrests.

The fourteen arrested.

Three arrested in on-going drugs raids in Tonga

The suspects include a 39-year-old man from Popua, a 34-year-old man from Fasi and a 39-year-old man from Kolomotu’a.

Police seized eight packs of methamphetamine (2.75 grams), two packs of cannabis (0.93 grams) and drug utensils during the arrest on Friday.

All three accused have been charged accordingly and to appear in court at a later date.

6 apprehended in Tonga Police drug crackdown

Police seized 1.81 grams of methamphetamine, 15.93 grams of cannabis and drug utensils during these arrests.

All the accused have been charged accordingly and to appear in court at a later date.

Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai says the arrests show that those who are seeking to profit from the harm drugs cause can continue to expect to be targeted by Police.

“Drugs have no place in our community; they destroy the lives of the users, harming our children and our communities. We hope these arrests will bring some reassurance to the community.”

Tonga Police arrest more people in on-going drug operation

A 32-year-old man from Tofoa was arrested by the Drug Taskforce on Thursday 14 November.

Officers seized 3.52g of methamphetamine, 3.14g of cannabis, drug utensils and over $1,000 pa’anga in cash from inside his vehicle.

Following the arrest on Friday 15 November the Taskforce arrested a 34-year-old man from Mataika who crashed into a police vehicle while attempting to escape.

Police seized 54.06g of methamphetamine, two live bullets, over $8,000 pa’anga cash and drug utensils from his residence at Mataika.

Drug arrests in Tonga ramp up through beginning of 2019

Local police said there were 84 arrests between January and April this year.

This was out of a total of 180 between April 2018 and April 2019.

Mele Manu Bloomfield, from the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper says that they have been covering between two and three drug arrests a week, not including cases already before the court.

More drug-related arrests in Tonga

The suspects were apprehended by the Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce at a house in Longolongo with illicit drugs packed ready for sale.

Police seized 55 packs of cannabis and 15 packs of methamphetamine  along with drug paraphernalia and cash.

The suspects are a 35-year-old man of Longolongo, a 29-year-old man of Hala’ovave, a 30-year-old man of Hoi and a 26-year-old man of Haveluloto.

They are currently in police custody and will appear in Court at a later date.