Tonga Police notice an increase in drug cases

Nukualofa: Police in Tonga are seeing an increase in drug related arrests in Tonga and large amounts of Class A drugs are being seized.

Police say statistics show that in 2018, there were 101 drugs related arrests, in 2019 the number more than doubled to 274 arrests, and drug related arrests rose to 285 in 2020.

Matangi Tonga reports this year 185 have been arrested for drugs offences so far.

Drug Enforcement Taskforce

Detective Halatoa Taufa said illicit drugs found now in Tonga are mainly cannabis, imported cannabis oil, methamphatamine and cocaine.