A suspected case of internal trafficking involving school-aged girls has raised alarm in Tonga, prompting quiet intervention by school officials and community members.
Allegations have emerged regarding potential coercive control, including reports of massage requests by a “manager” and the sudden full payment of previously unpaid student school fees.
It follows a concerned member of the public alerting a local high school after spotting female students in uniform entering and exiting a now-closed foreign-owned business in Nuku’alofa, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Acting on the alert, the school’s officials confirmed the students involved and launched an investigation, Kaniva News can reveal.
This resulted in the discovery that the students had been employed by a foreign business to work as kitchen hands.
The girls were promptly returned to their homes, and their employment was terminated.
Following the investigation, the school reached out to other stakeholders for support.
The community response included a visit where counselling was offered to the girls to “build trust and assess their well-being.”
Curtained Room Raises Concerns
The workplace where the students were reportedly employed operated across three floors, with the presumed owner residing on the top level, while the girls stayed there.
They lived in a single large room separated by curtains, with their employer covering all living costs, according to student accounts obtained by Kaniva News.
Authorities reportedly grew concerned about potential exploitation after learning the manager had taken girls swimming and asked them for massages, according to sources.
The business has since ceased operations at its original location and is understood to have relocated to another area.
Authorities could not be reached for comment, and it is unknown whether any formal complaints have been lodged with police.
Gaps Found, Plans Made
The last known police report of trafficking in Tonga, previously covered by Kaniva News, involved the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of a victim during a human trafficking operation late last year.
The foreign victim was reportedly assisted in returning to their home country, while the accused trafficker faced charges
The U.S. State Department previously raised concern about Tonga’s lack of a comprehensive prevention plan to combat all forms of trafficking and to support and protect victims.
In response, Tonga launched its first national action plan to address human trafficking in 2023.
