Tonga Police have reportedly apprehended a Customs officer on suspicion of involvement with illicit drugs.
Acting Commissioner of Police Tevita Vailea reportedly confirmed the arrest to local media but made no further comment as the investigation was ongoing.
The news comes in the wake of reports on social media this week that a customs officer had been arrested after a container containing illicit drugs was allegedly released from authority.
No further details were available.
Last week, a prison officer at Hu’atolitolu prison was arrested while more officers were under investigation following seizure of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia at the prison compound.
Last week’s arrest of the Customs officer follows the 2019 arrest of a Senior Customs Officer after a major drug bust at Kuini Salote Wharf.
In that incident, former Senior Customs Officer Paula Naitoko was later found guilty of importing a substantial amount of methamphetamine and firearms concealed in a box from the United States.
He was imprisoned for six years before he passed away in jail last year.
A recent public debate in Parliament rejected a suggestion that the death penalty be used to deter drug offenders.
Tonga has been combatting a growing drug problem for the past several years, leading to the Speaker of Parliament, Lord Fakafanua, calling for a debate on the topic, ‘Capital punishment is the best deterrent for illicit drugs offences.’
