[5] In the 1993, years after his retirement as rugby player, Liavaʻa got involved with the drug trafficking business.
[2] He also had contacts with the Hawaii-based drug boss Richard "Tiki" Taumoepeau.
[7] After being caught by the New Zealand Police through wiretapping, Liavaʻa was put under surveillance and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and deported back to Tonga, where he lives a hermit-like lifestyle on the west of Tongatapu.
[2] He is the brother of the late Sione Liava'a, former chairman of the Tonga Public Service Commission.
This biographical article relating to Tongan rugby union is a stub.