Police have identified a concerning trend in which drug dealers are specifically targeting students enrolled in the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS), particularly during the times when these students receive their financial allowances.
Recently, arrests were made near the Laucala Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP), and authorities are extending their surveillance to students at the Fiji National University (FNU) and other educational institutions.
According to police, these drug dealers are often well-educated individuals who have previously attended school. They strategically wait for TELS students at the entrances of campuses, aware of when these students receive funds.
“Last week, we conducted arrests in the Raiwaqa area, apprehending a few individuals who were caught selling marijuana rolls,” an officer stated. “Our search units are active not only at USP but also at FNU and other tertiary institutes. We are concentrating our efforts there because we have observed a clear targeting of these students due to their financial allowances.”
The police noted that drug dealers have become increasingly tactical in their methods of selling and distributing drugs. Rather than entering school grounds, they remain at the periphery, waiting for potential customers.
“Our operations are centered around these tertiary institutions,” the officer explained. “In the Southern Division, police teams conduct random searches of groups exhibiting suspicious behavior. If students are seen congregating, we intervene, search them, and if no illegal items are found, we ask them to disperse to prevent any involvement in drug transactions.”