A new trend in drug trafficking has emerged, with traffickers disguising themselves as pastors and elderly women to evade Fiji’s border officers. Minister for Immigration and Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua highlighted this alarming issue, stating that it poses a significant challenge for law enforcement.
According to Mr. Tikoduadua, these traffickers frequently use international airports to enter the country while carrying drugs. “Some of them act as a italatala (pastor) or an elderly woman to exploit the system,” he explained. “They constantly alter their appearances, and we must be vigilant in identifying and apprehending them.”
The minister praised the efforts of the nation’s security personnel who protect the borders from drug trafficking. He emphasized that combating this issue is a collective responsibility, urging the public to participate in the national action plan against drugs. “The duty to address this matter is not solely on the police or business stakeholders, as some of them possess the resources to combat this effectively,” Mr. Tikoduadua stated.