Is Crack Cocaine legal in Tonga?

Legal status

NAMED, via cocaine and the Schedule 1 chapeau's extension to preparations. Schedule 1, Class A, from Schedule I of the Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 (page 22), names "Cocaine" directly. Crack cocaine is the freebase (cocaine base) form of cocaine, produced by converting the hydrochloride salt to its free base; Schedule 1's chapeau applies the schedule to the listed drugs and "any preparations including any such substances", so crack cocaine falls within the cocaine entry as a preparation of cocaine rather than as a separate listing.

Consequences if caught

Crack cocaine is reached through the cocaine entry, a Class A drug, with no separate band for freebase form. Under section 3, as substituted by Act 15 of 2020 section 3, unlawful import or export of a Class A drug is liable, for less than 1 gram, to a fine not exceeding 10,000 pa'anga or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or both; for 1 gram or more, to a fine not exceeding 1,000,000 pa'anga or imprisonment for any period not exceeding life or both; and for 28 grams or more, to life imprisonment. Under section 4, as amended by Act 15 of 2020 section 4 and Act 19 of 2021 section 3, the same bands apply to possession, manufacture, cultivation, use or supply, except the top band is 5 kilograms or more; section 4(2) deems 0.25 grams or more to be supplying.

If prescribed or medical

No entry for crack cocaine, freebase cocaine, or cocaine base was located in the Therapeutic Goods Act 2001, No. 3 of 2001, or the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2011, 2020 Revised Edition; neither instrument prints a name specific schedule for this form distinct from the Illicit Drugs Control Act's own Class A listing of cocaine.

Documentation

Searched against Illicit Drugs Control Act 2003 Schedule 1, pages 21 to 23, for "crack cocaine" and "freebase cocaine; cocaine base"; Cocaine is named at page 22 among the entries from Schedule I of the Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, and the Schedule 1 chapeau extends coverage to preparations of the listed drugs. Also searched against the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Act 2020, the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Act 2021, the Drugs and Poisons Act 1930 Schedule A and Part III, the Therapeutic Goods Act 2001, and the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 2011; none names crack cocaine as a separate form. Two further amending Acts, the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) (No.1) Act 2024 and the Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2024, are listed in the Attorney General's legislation index but their PDFs returned HTTP 404 from the official portal checked independently in this session on 2026-10-07. Section 6 of the Act exempts a travelling medical patient for up to one month with written doctor authority; section 7 exempts a lawful occupation and the Ministry of Health.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Tonga’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.