Tonga is making positive steps to fight drug problem after recent seizures
14 February 2024. Tonga's Police Commissioner says they will continue the fight against illicit drugs in the Kingdom and work with partners in the region as well.
Commissioner Shane McLennan told RNZ Pacific the drug problem in Tonga and the region will need working in partnership with all stakeholders, including border security and law enforcement agencies.
Tēvita Nonu Kolokihakaufisi, 39, and his sister 'Ana Longolongo Kolokihakaufisi, 37, have been remanded after they appeared at the Magistrate's Court on Monday with charges relating to the discovery of 15 kilograms methamphetamine (over US$6 million in street vlaue) over the weekend.
McLennan said the arrest of the Kolokihakaufis siblings, as well as the 14 individuals recently arrested in Fiji in relation to two major meth bust in Nadi where police seized almost 5 tonnes of meth, indicates that the intelligence network for sharing information is working.
"Tonga Police has a dedicated investigative effort that has been targeting drug use across the Kingdom of Tonga for a number of years now and we have had significant success with drug seizures, arrests and prosecutions," he said.
"The latest seizure and arrests are the result of our on-going efforts to detect, deter and disrupt the drug related crime in Tonga."
Tonga Police works with His Majesty's Armed Forces, the Tonga Prisons Services, the Tonga Christian Church Leaders Unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, members of the Civil Society Fourm of Tinga and the Prime Minister's Office in a special National Drug Task Force led by the Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
Commissioner McLennan said Tonga Police is not working in isolation, partnering with other stakeholders across the Pacific.
He said the current investigations in Fiji is something that they are also keeping a watch on as the discoveries in Fiji and Tonga could be linked.
He said said the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), based in Apia, is actively monitoring the Fiji and Tonga investigations.
McLennan said the PTCCC is the focal point for all Transnational Crime Units (TCUs) which are country based and this network informs law enforcement efforts to identify and disrupt organised crime within the Pacific.
"Any major drug discovery and investigation within our region is of significant interest to border security and law enforcement agencies and that is why we have an intelligence network in place to ensure information and intelligence is shared across our region," he said.
"The PTCCC is actively monitoring the Fiji investigation and is providing actionable intelligence to the TCU network across the Pacific."
McLennan added that the belief is that drugs found in the Pacific Islands are meant to be for bigger markets, adding the island countries are being used as transit points.
- RNZI
