Tonga continues to battle drug offenses mostly to do with methamphetamine, but cocaine has also been a problem that has been known to be trans-shipped via Tonga.
A boatload of cocaine was found washed ashore on a beach in the Northern Island of Vava’u in 2021.
36kgs of cocaine was found on the beach, valued at US$8.2 million dollars.
Eight locals were arrested in connection with the cocaine, and this week were sentenced at the Tonga Supreme Court with sentences ranging from 13 and half years imprisonment for the leading accused to three years for another, and fully suspended sentence for one.
Of the eight who were sentenced, one is a 32-year-old mother of six who was sentenced for 10 years imprisonment, with suspension of the last 3 years.
Justice Cooper in sentencing said that the eight defendants were in a wide range of involvement from those who found the drugs, hid and then supplied to others; as well those who were involved in distribution.
He said: “In all likelihood Vava’u was, or still is, being used as a staging post for a drugs cartel or cartels involved in the international supply of cocaine.”