Police arrested Senior Customs Officer over $6 million worth of drugs seizure Featured
Drugs and firearms seized by Customs at Queen Salote Wharf on April 23, 2019. Tonga Police photo.
26 April, 2019. The Drug Enforcement Taskforce have arrested a Senior Customs Officer on the 24 of April 2019 in relation to the seizure of over $6 million worth of drugs which were intercepted by Customs Officers on Tuesday 23 of April at the Queen Salote Wharf.
The drugs consisted of 6.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 625.29 grams of cannabis, and 107.29 grams of cannabis oil which were smuggled into the country through a shipment from the United States of America.
Also found in the shipment were illegal firearms, 1 M4 Assault rifle, 2 Glock pistols and 1 handgun with relevant ammunition.
The arrested 59-year-old man have been criminally charged with nine charges under the Illicit Drugs Control Act for engaging with others to import illicit drugs and also under the Arms and Ammunition Act for abetting the importation of illegal firearms and ammunition.
He is remanded in police custody while investigation continues.
Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai says this is a significant result for Police and Customs joint efforts in our war against drugs, and will go a long way to help keep our communities safe.
“These drugs and firearms, should they have made it to the streets, would have caused significant harm to our people and communities.”
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KEI FAKAPULIPULI'I AI PĒ HINGOA KAU MA'U FAITO'O KONA TAPÚ 'E HE KAU POLISÍ. Ko e malu'i eni 'o e kau ngāue 'i Pule'angá, ka e tukumai 'a e hingoa 'o e kakai 'ikai ngāue faka-Pule'angá 'ihe ngaahi faka'ilo ma'ama'á?
Fiema'u ke 'ata tāsilosilo mai kitu'a ngāue 'a e kau Polisí 'ihe fakamatala 'a Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai. Kohai 'a e hingoa 'o e Senior Customs Officer na'e tukuaki'i 'o faka'ilo 'e he Drug Enforcement Taskforce, kau ai mo e ngaahi me'afaná?
Fiema'u 'e he kakaí (public) ke 'ilo kohai na'e "arrest"? Ko e founga totonu ia ki he kakaí kenau 'ilo 'oku fai totonu 'a e kau Polisí. Pea ke 'ilo ai 'e he mitiá ke fakatotolo'i pe 'oku tala totonu 'a e ngāue 'a e kau Polisí pē 'ikai. 'Oku 'ikai ko e pule'anga-polisi (Police State) eni ke fakapulipuli e me'a 'e ni'ihi 'e he kau Polisí, pea tufa momoiki mai 'enau tu'utu'uní. Pea fehu'i atu 'e he mītiá ka e fakaloea mai 'a e kau Polisí mo e Ombudsman tokua 'oku 'ikai ha lao fakangofua'i ke tukumai 'a e fakaikiiki 'o e ngāue 'a e Pule'angá ki he kakaí? -
Kuo mahino e tu'unga ia 'oku 'iai e faito'o konatapu ko e hala pe koe 'omai ke fakatau atu local, pe ko hano holataki'i ki he vaha'a tahi 'o pick up ai.
Ko 'etau sio koee ki he me'atau, pea 'asili ai ko e me'atau 'oku 'ikai faka'ata 'e he lao, pea 'oku tau fakakaukau atu leva kuo hange ia hano fakanaunau'i 'o ha kulupu ke teuaki ha tau.
Mou faka'eke 'aki ha pekenene 'a Paula Naitoko ke lea hono ngutu pe kohai fua e kulupu 'oku nau fakanaunau'i, na kuo teuaki ha lingitoto kae 'ikai ketau 'ilo.