Police have arrested three men and seized 10 firearms and over 20,000 ammunition in Vava’u and Tongatapu.
The illicit firearms had been smuggled into Tonga through four different shipments from America in the first week of July.
Three shipments were seized at the Custom Warehouse in Vava’u and one shipment was seized from one of the bondage Warehouse in Tongatapu.
The three arrested included a 43-year-old man from Kāmeli Vava’u who has been charged with the Importation of firearms and over 20,000 various ammunition without licence. A 45-year old man from Leimātu’a and a 74-year-old man from Neiafu have been charged accordingly for importation of firearms and ammunition without licence.
“Police are concerned with the significant amount of firearms and ammunition that have been smuggled into the country and the risks they pose to community safety. We therefore urge members of the public to come forward with any information that will help with police investigations,” Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai said.
Anyone who may have information about firearms related offending to please contact Police Emergency Number, 922.
