Police have observed a troubling trend where drug dealers are specifically targeting students enrolled under the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS), particularly during the periods when they receive their financial allowances.
Last week, law enforcement made several arrests near the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus and are actively monitoring similar activities surrounding students at the Fiji National University and other educational institutions.
Authorities have noted that many drug peddlers are well-educated individuals who, after leaving school, look to exploit TELS students, aware of the timing of their allowance disbursements.
“Recently, we arrested a few individuals in Raiwaqa who were found selling marijuana rolls. These operations are not limited to the USP but extend to FNU and other tertiary institutions,” an official stated.
Police are particularly focusing on areas where they have identified that drug dealers are preying on students during allowance payments. They emphasize that these dealers tend to avoid entering the campuses, instead positioning themselves around the entrances.
The police have intensified their operations in these educational settings, conducting random searches on groups exhibiting suspicious behavior. “Our approach has been to monitor and intervene when we see groups gathered. If we find nothing illegal, they are instructed to leave the area to ensure that students are not drawn into drug activities,” the spokesperson added.