Nuku‘alofa — A woman already serving life imprisonment for importing more than 137 grams of methamphetamine has been sentenced for a second time, after the Supreme Court of Tonga convicted her on an additional charge of importing drug‑use utensils.
‘Anita Toutaiolepo, 46, appeared before Justice Tupou KC for sentencing on Friday, just months after receiving one of the country’s harshest penalties for drug trafficking.
This latest case centres on six smoking pipes concealed within the same shipment that led to her original conviction.
The utensils were discovered when Customs officers scanned and inspected a drum shipped from the United States aboard the Papuan Poly, consigned directly to Toutaiolepo.
Suspicious markings led officers to open the container, where they found the methamphetamine along with six pipes wrapped inside a pair of pants.
Toutaiolepo and her daughter had personally cleared the drum at the wharf before Customs intervened.
This second sentencing focuses solely on the drug‑use utensils, a separate offence under the Illicit Drugs Control Act.
Although she had previously agreed to facts showing the drum was sent by her father in San Francisco and intended for her, Toutaiolepo later presented a new version of events, claiming the shipment was arranged by others in the household where she had been working as a caregiver.
Justice Tupou described this account as a “brand new story” inconsistent with the evidence and past admissions.
The court noted that she had failed to cooperate with authorities, continued to deny responsibility despite her conviction, and showed no remorse, offering shifting and contradictory explanations throughout the process
Justice Tupou set a starting point of nine months, reduced to six months due to her previously clean record before these offences.
The judge declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, citing her lack of cooperation and persistent denial.
However, because she is already serving life imprisonment, the six‑month sentence will be served concurrently, meaning it does not extend her time behind bars — but it does add an additional criminal conviction to her record.
The court also ordered that the six drug pipes be destroyed.
Justice Tupou stressed the need to denounce and deter those involved in Tonga’s growing drug trade.
