Concerns are rising over the alleged trade of marijuana among youths in Lau, particularly on Moala Island, in exchange for methamphetamine sourced from Suva. Village leaders in the province have voiced their worries regarding this troubling trend.
Insight gathered during visits to Moala and Vanuabalavu suggests that meth is increasingly being used by the youth on these islands. The Fiji Police Narcotics Bureau has been informed, yet they have not yet obtained concrete evidence.
It is believed that meth is being smuggled into the islands via local villagers using passenger boats from Suva, as security checks at the wharf are minimal due to limited police resources in the area. Youngsters in the Lau Group are allegedly encountering meth through various means, including yachts, inter-island shipping, domestic flights, and online content related to its production.
Village leaders across the 72 villages in the province are alarmed that meth use could jeopardize the peace and lifestyle of the islanders. Roko Tui Lau, Jaji Kalounivalu, voiced concerns about the future welfare of the island’s inhabitants.
“We have long been aware of marijuana cultivation here, but reports now indicate that meth has also arrived on islands such as Vanuabalavu, Ono-i-Lau, Lakeba, and Moala,” he stated. He noted that while meth use might not be widespread among the youth currently, the small population size means that it could rapidly become a significant issue.
The Lau Group consists of over 50 islands, 19 of which are inhabited. The province has an estimated total population of around 80,000, with about 6,800 villagers living on the islands, predominantly males aged 10 to 30.
In the Moala and Vanuabalavu region, marijuana is already known to be illegally produced and used by young people. Evidence of packaged cocaine found along the shores of some Lau islands in 2018 paved the way for further concerns regarding drug trafficking routes to Australia and New Zealand.
Moala Community Post Station Officer Biutoka Vuli is aware of potential links between local groups and drug dealers in Suva. He mentioned that while no conclusive evidence linking meth to the island has been gathered, there are noticeable signs of drug use among young men, including higher school dropout rates, increased alcohol consumption, and associated violence.
Dr. Fifita Niulevu from Naroi health centre is witnessing a rise in alcohol-related physical assault cases among the youth and has expressed concern about the potential influx of hard drugs to the islands.
Nasoki Village headman Inia Cakacaka believes that drugs are being transported from Viti Levu through inter-island shipping, stressing the need for the government to halt the flow of these substances to Moala. Although there are no suspected meth cases on Vanuabalavu, marijuana is still cultivated and utilized.
Daliconi villagers have reported observing nets tied to buoys in the ocean, raising suspicions about the Lau Group’s role in drug trafficking.
On a separate note, Savenaca Ledua, who stumbled upon a cocaine package in 2018, highlighted a significant incident of drug discovery in the area, which has since fueled concerns about illicit drug availability.
Policing efforts have faced significant criticism for ineffectiveness, particularly regarding monitoring shipping and air travel routes. Stakeholder George Goundar noted that police presence is insufficient, leaving opportunities for drug trafficking unaddressed.
As discussions continue, the communities emphasize the need for awareness and preventative measures against increasing drug use among the youth in the Lau Group.