New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced further support to combat drug trafficking in Tonga during his Pacific visit, highlighting the region as a “super highway” for cartels. Speaking at Tonga’s police headquarters, Luxon outlined enhancements to the Pacific Detector Dog Programme, jointly managed by New Zealand Police and Customs, which in 2025 led to the detection of methamphetamine, cannabis, currency, ammunition, and weapons, resulting in 22 arrests. The new support includes funding for two additional kennels to expand the programme’s capacity.
Luxon emphasized the severe impact of methamphetamine trafficking on both New Zealand and Tonga, stressing the need for comprehensive collaboration to tackle transnational crime, including prevention, enforcement, and rehabilitation. Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua welcomed the support, noting its potential to significantly strengthen regional efforts against organized crime.
In addition to the detector dog programme, New Zealand will provide Samoa and Tonga with two-year subscriptions to the Starboard Maritime Intelligence platform, enabling transnational crime units to monitor suspicious vessels in real time and improve information sharing and coordination across borders. Luxon and the Tongan delegation also observed a demonstration of New Zealand-trained detector dogs conducting a mock drug seizure.
The New Zealand government announced a $2 million fund for NGOs and community groups to assist returnees reintegrating into society and prevent recidivism. The visit has focused on strengthening Pacific law enforcement capabilities, with police and customs officials noting that criminal networks are using Pacific Island countries to transport drugs to lucrative markets in New Zealand and Australia via both sea and air routes.
During his trip, Luxon also held a private audience with Tonga’s King Tupou VI and visited infrastructure and agriculture projects, including the Fanga’uta Lagoon Bridge and Nishi Trading. His delegation returned to New Zealand on Wednesday evening.
