The Fiji Police Force has expressed alarm regarding the rise of methamphetamine production in residential areas. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, is urging the community to report locations where these drugs are being manufactured.
“Feedback from our personnel indicates that individuals are starting to create methamphetamine in their homes,” ACP Driu stated. He emphasized the dangers of these operations, noting that many individuals lack expertise and may be combining hazardous chemicals, which poses risks to public safety.
The fight against illegal substances remains a priority for the police, and ACP Driu insists that addressing the homemade production of meth is crucial.
Kalesi Volatabu, founder of Drug Free Fiji, has claimed that local meth production has been a concern since 2019. “During our research in 2019, we learned from coastal communities, the Fiji Fire Authority, and the Fiji Police about the ongoing issues within certain communities and squatter settlements,” Volatabu reported.
She highlighted that instructions for producing these substances are readily available online, and warned that there have been incidents of individuals suffering severe injuries, including third-degree burns. The ingredients for meth production are also easily accessible in hardware stores and supermarkets.
The police are asking the public to assist in identifying these producers. In addition, ACP Driu mentioned that ongoing drug raids in remote islands have uncovered a growing cultivation of marijuana, although no significant finds of meth have been reported in these areas.
“Our drug operations encompass all five divisions, including maritime islands, not just Viti Levu and Vanua Levu,” ACP Driu explained, adding that the same enforcement procedures and awareness programs are implemented across the board. Police officers are also stationed in areas such as Moala and Vanuabalavu in Lau.
On the mainland, police have recorded a 37 percent increase in drug raids compared to the previous year. ACP Driu reassured the public that the situation is manageable, as they have been receiving information on drug locations, leading to successful arrests and raids. He anticipates that the number of incidents may decrease due to rising prices of meth.