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Tonga’s Situation Regarding Organized Crime, Terrorism, IUU Fishing, Corruption, and Money Laundering

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Tonga faces significant challenges in addressing organized crime, corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking. This report highlights the key points regarding these issues in Tonga.

Organized Crime

The methamphetamine epidemic is the most pressing threat to Tonga. Prisons and juvenile detention centers are hotspots for drug trade. Overcrowding in prisons has become a significant issue due to an increase in arrests for drug offenses, juveniles in prison, and COVID-19 rule breakers.

Key Statistics:

  • Methamphetamine epidemic is the most pressing threat
  • Prisons and juvenile detention centers are hotspots for drug trade
  • Overcrowding in prisons has become a significant issue

Terrorism

There is no specific information on terrorism threats or incidents in Tonga.

IUU Fishing

Tonga faces challenges in protecting its fishing zones, but not to the same extent as other nations in the southwestern Pacific. The country has an Interpol National Central Bureau and a Drug Enforcement Taskforce to combat transnational drug trade, which includes IUU fishing.

Key Points:

  • Tonga faces challenges in protecting its fishing zones
  • Country has an Interpol National Central Bureau and a Drug Enforcement Taskforce
  • IUU fishing is part of the country’s efforts to combat transnational crime

Corruption

Corruption has been identified in Tonga’s police force, customs, and public sector, including among higher officials in the past. This poses additional concerns for Tonga’s economic regulatory environment.

Key Findings:

  • Corruption exists in Tonga’s police force, customs, and public sector
  • Higher officials have been implicated in corruption in the past
  • Corruption affects the country’s economic regulatory environment

Money Laundering

Tonga has not yet experienced issues with money laundering, but there are concerns about possible links between local Tongans and drug cartels. The country’s legal and regulatory regime for anti-money laundering is relatively robust, but local authorities are aware of the country’s vulnerability to money laundering due to inadequate and under-resourced border control.

Key Points:

  • No money laundering issues reported in Tonga
  • Concerns about links between local Tongans and drug cartels
  • Country’s legal regime for anti-money laundering is robust, but border control is a concern

Economic Environment

Tonga’s economy depends on public sector employment and inbound remittances from family members abroad, resulting in a lack of economic dynamism. Corruption has been identified as a concern for Tonga’s economic regulatory environment.

Key Statistics:

  • Economy depends on public sector employment and remittances
  • Lack of economic dynamism in the country
  • Corruption affects the economic regulatory environment

Civil Society and Social Protection

Tonga maintains victim support services mainly for domestic violence survivors, which are provided by NGOs and charitable groups. However, there is a lack of essential equipment, especially on outlying islands, that restricts the local police’s ability to assist victims of crime.

Key Findings:

  • Victim support services exist in Tonga
  • Services mainly focus on domestic violence survivors
  • Limited resources hinder the police’s ability to assist victims of crime