Pacific

Tonga police crackdown on drug dealers

08:30 am on 14 December 2019

Police in Tonga have staged multiple drug busts in the past fortnight as they ramp up efforts to curb the production and distribution of illegal narcotics in the kingdom.

The Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai praised the Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce for it's efforts which saw six men arrested in different locations in Tongatapu and charged with possession and distribution of methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as the possession of drug processing utensils.

The deputy police commissioner said he hopes the arrests send a clear message to people who continue to produce and distribute illegal drugs in Tonga that they will be targeted by Police.

Mr Vaisuai said illicit drugs destroy lives, are harmful to children and have no place in Tonga.

The deputy police commissioner praised the co-operation of Tongan community members whose contributions have been instrumental in most of the arrests made so far.

Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta