rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Illicit Drugs Control Bill 2002 provided the
model for the Tonga Illicit Drugs Control Act
2003. 867 The Bill and subsequently enacted
legislation were developed to address issues
emerging around new drugs of concern including
methamphetamines, which were not
addressed in earlier legislation. If countries
across the Pacific choose to adopt this model
as the foundation of their drugs legislation,
some consistency of approach will result at
a regional level.
In 2007, a legal mentor with the Pacific
Anti-Money Laundering Programme (PALP)
responded to a request from Tongan authorities
regarding the theft of precursor chemicals
believed to be used for the manufacture
of methamphetamines. PALP’s legal mentor
provided assistance to the Government
of Tonga’s review of its Money Laundering
and Proceeds of Crime Act 2001 (MLPCA).
The legal mentor also aided in the drafting
of amendments to the Money Laundering
and Proceeds of Crime Act, as well as
drafting Bills for currency declaration and
for the strengthening of a financial intelligence
unit (FIU), resulting from a review
in March 2007. The amendments to the
MLPCA include serious offences designated
by the inter- governmental Financial Action
Task Force as predicate offences for money
laundering. The Currency Declaration Bill,
when passed, will assist in detecting bulk
cash smuggling. The FIU Bill will provide the
Tongan FIU with more extensive powers to
investigate reports received from financial
institutions of suspicious transactions.
Law enforcement
The Ministry of Police is heading data collection
in relation to crimes committed under
the influence of alcohol and other drugs,
as part of the Ministry of Police Annual
Plan 2008. 868 The Ministry of Health is also
involved in this response. The Tonga Family
Health Clinic provides information on STIs
and HIV. The Salvation Army Alcohol and
Drug Awareness Centre collects data from
clients, while the Tonga National Centre
for Women and Children on Violence also
provides information on substance abuse. 869
In his closing address to the Tonga Police
Commissioned Officers 39th Conference in
October 2008, 870 the Tonga Police Commander
identified drugs and alcohol as an
issue of concern for the future but also highlighted
many competing priorities, including
community policing. Notably, community
policing responses may be compatible with
innovative responses to alcohol and other
drug issues, and the potential to coordinate
responses requires further investigation.
177
867 Burnet Institute & Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre (2006), Situational Analysis of Illicit
Drug Issues and Responses in the Asia–Pacific Region. ANCD Research Paper 12. Canberra:
Australian National Council on Drugs.
868 A key informant noted that little priority is given to substance use issues; therefore, it was
difficult to determine a specific approach to substance use issues, punitive or otherwise.
869 Key informant interview, February 2009.
870 Available at:
(accessed March 2009).
Tonga