A 56-year-old man from Ma’ufanga has been arrested by police for illegally importing firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition from the United States of America.
The man was arrested on September 11, 2023 after Customs intercepted a consignment of illegally imported firearms, concealed in a personal consignment shipped to him from the United States.
The items intercepted included nine 22 caliber-rifles, three rifle scopes, nine magazines, two pump action shotguns, one Taurus pistol, and approximately 4159 pieces of ammunition.
The shipment was targeted and put through the Customs x-ray pallet scanner, which indicated the presence of the concealed goods that were not declared. Further physical examination by Customs with the assistance of police revealed the presence of the firearms, firearm parts and accessories, as well as ammunition.
The goods were subsequently detained and the importer was taken in for questioning by police and later arrested. Police investigations into this case are ongoing.
This is the latest in a series of seizures of illegal firearms in Tonga. In July 2023, police seized 10 illegal imported firearms and over 20,000 live bullets, smuggled into Tonga through four different shipments from America.
The importation of firearms is illegal in Tonga without a license. Police are urging members of the public to come forward with any information that will help with police investigations.
