The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) has imposed an immediate ban on the operation of drones in and around all correctional facilities, warning that correction officers will take swift enforcement action against anyone who breaches the directive. The blanket prohibition covers divisional headquarters, correctional institutions, officers’ quarters and surrounding zones across the country.
FCS said the move follows repeated detections of unauthorised drone activity near the Naboro Complex in recent weeks, which it said raised “serious security concerns.” In a statement the Service said such actions “pose a significant threat to the security of inmates, the safety of members of the public, as well as unlawful surveillance of secure facilities,” and reiterated that the prohibition takes effect immediately.
Under the directive, “the flying, operation, or use of drones within and around all Correctional Areas of Operation is strictly prohibited with immediate effect,” the statement said. FCS also warned that correctional staff have legal powers to intervene: Correction Officers are empowered under Section 9(1)(f) of the Corrections Act 2006 to arrest, without warrant, any person suspected of committing an offence that threatens the security and good order of correctional facilities.
The Service urged members of the public to comply with the ban and to avoid operating drones near correctional premises. It also called on communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious drone activity to the nearest correctional facility or to law enforcement authorities, saying such reports will assist efforts to safeguard inmates and the public from potential breaches involving aerial surveillance technology.
The prohibition marks a step up from previous, more localized responses to drone sightings around specific facilities. By applying the ban across all correctional areas, FCS aims to stem what it views as an emerging security risk posed by small, readily purchased unmanned aerial systems. While the statement did not specify penalties beyond the possibility of arrest, the Service said it would take “immediate enforcement action” against offenders.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of corrections operations in Fiji following past incidents that exposed vulnerabilities in the prison system. FCS’s public warning signals a tighter posture on security and surveillance threats as authorities seek to prevent drones being used for unlawful reconnaissance, contraband delivery, or other activities that could undermine the management of inmates and the safety of staff and the community.