New Zealand’s prime minister has announced further support to combat drug trafficking in Tonga, following his announcements earlier in the week in Samoa.
Much of Christopher Luxon’s Pacific visit has consisted of events and announcements highlighting stronger collaboration on transnational crime, with Luxon saying the Pacific had become a “super highway” for cartels.
During a visit to Tonga’s police headquarters, Luxon announced further support for the Pacific Detector Dog Programme, an initiative jointly managed by New Zealand Police and Customs.
In 2025, the programme led to the detection and apprehension of methamphetamine, cannabis, currency, ammunition, and weapons, leading to 22 arrests in Tonga.
The new support included funding for two new kennels.
Luxon said the flow of methamphetamine has had “devastating consequences” in New Zealand and Tonga.
“We must work together to stamp it out, and to thwart those who seek to harm our peoples through transnational organised crime.
“To be successful, we must look across the whole spectrum when addressing transnational crime and illicit drugs, those beyond our shores, inside our borders, and also those recovering from the harm.”
Behind Luxon were cars and a motorbike seized under proceeds of crime legislation.
Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua said he was “very comforted” by New Zealand’s contributions, and they would have “great ramifications” for transnational crime.
Luxon also announced Samoa and Tonga would receive two-year funded subscriptions to the Starboard Maritime Intelligence platform, which would allow their transnational crime units to monitor suspicious vessels in real time.
“When you can see the problem, you can tackle it. And even better, if we’re all using the same software, our information sharing and our collaboration will be greatly improved.”
The two prime ministers and the delegation then watched a demonstration of New Zealand-trained detector dogs doing a mock drug seizure.
A $2 million (US$1.16 million) fund was also announced for NGOs and community groups to help returnees to Tonga reintegrate into society and stop them falling back into “bad habits”.
Drugs and transnational crime have been a major focus of Luxon’s visit to the Pacific, with the police commissioner and Customs chief executive joining the delegation.
Commissioner Richard Chambers told Checkpoint on Tuesday networks were using Pacific Island countries to get their product to the lucrative markets in New Zealand and Australia.
“They’ve got some fairly innovative ways of attaching product to the vessels and things like that. So of course, it’s not just on the sea. It’s by air as well.
“Our job is to disrupt that and lift the capability of law enforcement in the Pacific to help deal with the problem.”
On Monday, New Zealand and Samoa signed Police and Customs memorandums of understanding to share more information.
On Wednesday morning, Luxon also had a private audience with Tonga’s King Tupou VI.
Later on, Wednesday afternoon, he visited a construction site for the Fanga’uta Lagoon Bridge project, a US$97m (NZ$165m) Asian Development Bank/World Bank-funded bridge, which New Zealand firm McConnell Dowell has been contracted to build.
He also visited Nishi Trading, the agriculture-focused component of the trip.
Luxon and his delegation returned to New Zealand on Wednesday evening.
