Caution Urged as Police Address Coconut Chemical Injection Claims

The Fiji Police Force has urged the public to exercise caution in response to a social media post claiming that youths have been injecting chemicals into fresh coconuts, or “bu,” to induce sleep in homeowners and enable theft. This alarming image, depicting several individuals on the ground with police officers present, has raised significant concern within the community.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, has addressed the growing anxiety, advising the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could lead to unnecessary fear or panic. He has called on those disseminating such claims to make their statements publicly known and report them to the authorities for verification.

Driu emphasized the importance of properly verifying information before taking further action, stating, “The Fiji Police would share information if there was a trend as such and we urge caution in disseminating unverified information that would create panic.”

The police have encouraged citizens to report any relevant information or suspicious activities using official channels such as Crime Stoppers at 919 or contacting the Serious Organised Crime & Intelligence Department (SOCID) at 3370012 or the Director at 9904923.

As the situation unfolds, the Fiji Police reminded the public to be discerning when sharing information on social media and to only share verified facts to prevent causing unnecessary alarm. They assured the community that if any confirmed patterns of such criminal behavior arise, they will communicate this in a timely and transparent manner.

In the meantime, authorities are urging everyone to stay vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities directly to them.

Overall, while this issue has raised some initial fears, the proactive stance taken by the Fiji Police to address misinformation and encourage reporting of suspicious behavior fosters a sense of community vigilance and support. This collaborative effort helps to ensure public safety and maintains trust between law enforcement and residents.