Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua has raised concerns about Tonga’s vulnerability to regional drug trafficking, warning that a surge in large-scale drug busts in nearby Fiji highlights the need for heightened vigilance in Tonga.
Speaking to local media last week, the Prime Minister said Pacific leaders had agreed to collaborate as a “network” to combat high levels of drug trafficking across regional waters.
He said the partnership would involve sharing information and intelligence among countries to strengthen enforcement efforts.
Lord Fakafanua added that regional attention is increasingly focused on the surge in drug trafficking in Fiji, noting that “Tonga’s proximity underscores the need for heightened preparedness.”
Tonga Escalates Drug Fight
The kingdom is continuing its ongoing battle against an illicit drugs crisis, which has led Parliament to pass legislation imposing the harshest penalties, including life imprisonment without parole for drug offenders.
The King also took a leading role by convening a national symposium and warning Parliament of its responsibility to address the drug crisis seriously.
Tonga is also introducing wastewater-based epidemiology, or sewage testing, to measure illicit drug use and track trafficking patterns within the country.
A recent ABC documentary on drug trafficking in the Pacific, which included Tonga, revealed that Tongan police conduct around 150 tactical operations each year targeting illicit drug activity.
It comes in the wake of a warning from the Prison Commissioner that Hu‘atolitoli Prison is facing mounting pressure, as a sharp rise in drug-related offences pushes inmate numbers beyond manageable levels.
Fiji Drug Crackdown Intensifies
Meanwhile, Fiji has become a focal point of major regional and international anti-drug operations amid a surge in transnational trafficking.
Recent developments include a 2.64-tonne cocaine seizure, a joint military crackdown that destroyed more than 47,000 marijuana plants, and ongoing court proceedings involving prominent local businessmen allegedly linked to international cartels.
While several Fijian nationals are awaiting court hearings on charges involving tonnes of cocaine and other illicit drugs, local media have reported growing concern over suspected cocaine packages washing ashore across islands in the Lau group last week.
The reports said the latest discovery adds to earlier finds in Moala, Kabara, and Moce.
Authorities believe recent rough sea conditions may have dislodged the hidden packages, causing them to surface and wash ashore.
