Tonga's acting police commander says co-operation between the police and the customs department over the importation of illegal firearms could be better.
The comment follows the laying of a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm against a man alleged to have shot a security guard outside a Nuku'alofa nightclub last month.
Taniela Faletau says the police are developing an armed response capability because of concerns about safety.
He says illegal guns enter Tonga by through concealment in shipping containers and fuller co-operation between customs and police is key to stopping the trade.
"That is part of the problem that we are addressing, besides other illegal things like narcotics and contrabands and all the other illegal stuff that's being unlawfully imported through the ports."
