Nuku’alofa, Tonga – Tonga Police are investigating an alleged gunpoint threat involving a journalist from Kele’a Publications, with their latest public statement making no mention of any arrests in connection with the case.
The police confirmed in a statement this afternoon that the matter remains under active investigation, following a complaint linked to an incident said to have occurred at the organisation’s office in Nuku’alofa on 23 April 2026 and was reported to police the following day.
It described the matter as a “life-threatening incident involving media staff”, but did not provide further specifics on suspects or enforcement action.
Police said the alleged threat is understood to have occurred in the context of recent media activity, including a news report and a talkback radio programme aired on Kele’a Voice FM91.5.
The programme reportedly discussed a member of the Comancheros motorcycle gang, who is serving a life sentence, and featured an interview with a foreign correspondent.
The extent to which that coverage may be connected to the alleged incident remains part of the ongoing investigation.
Public Appeal
“Tonga Police take this matter seriously and are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement said.
Members of the public with relevant information are urged to contact Tonga Police on 922 or report to the nearest police station.
The alleged gunman is believed to have been angered by a radio news item aired earlier that morning about prisoner Eneasi Taumoefolau, who has links to the outlaw Comancheros motorcycle gang.
Comancheros Figure Jailed for Meth
Taumoefolau was sentenced to life imprisonment in Tonga in early 2026 for importing more than two kilograms of methamphetamine. He was also accused of attempting to establish a “Kingdom Chapter” of the gang in the kingdom.
No one was injured, and police are investigating the incident, according to Kele’a Media.
It said the unidentified individual reportedly entered the premises and confronted the staff member while armed with a handgun.
The suspect, described as wearing a black hooded cardigan, allegedly approached the journalist who was alone at the time and threatened them with the firearm.
It is alleged that the suspect warned the journalist not to broadcast any further reports related to Taumoefolau or the gang before leaving the office. The individual then exited in a waiting vehicle.
ABC Documentary Sparks Coverage
The news item in question reportedly drew on information from an ABC Foreign Correspondent documentary released on April 22, 2026, via ABC Pacific’s social media platforms. The documentary examined drug trafficking routes from South America to Australia through the South Pacific and the impact of such operations on island nations, including Tonga.
The programme included an interview with Taumoefolau, during which he discussed his alleged connections to the Comancheros and a reported failed attempt to establish a local chapter in Tonga.
In its statement, the publication expressed serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists operating in Tonga, particularly when covering sensitive or controversial issues.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the risks our local journalists face in carrying out their duties,” the statement said.
History of Threats and Closure
Kele’a has not been new to threats and attacks from its most outspoken critics over its nearly 40 years of operation.
In 2007, the outlet’s office in Nuku’alofa was entered by members of the Tonga military and shut down on the grounds that it was operating without a licence.
Then editor Tavake Fusimalohi argued the closure was politically motivated, claiming it came in response to the paper’s reporting on alleged government corruption.
Its founder, ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, who rose politically from a vocal critic of government and royal involvement in alleged corruption to become Prime Minister, faced numerous court cases linked to the publication’s pro‑democracy stance.
Kele’a, which now also operates a radio service, has long maintained a strongly pro‑liberal editorial line.
