A joint military-police counter-narcotics task force was formally launched in Fiji’s Western Division on Friday, May 15, in what authorities describe as the start of an “aggressive and sustained” campaign against illicit drugs and transnational organised crime. The operation is commanded from Headquarters Joint Task Force Command by Brigadier General Manoa Gadai, with senior police leadership including Divisional Police Commander Western Senior Superintendent Ioane Vaisewa involved in planning and coordination.
In opening remarks at a high-level operational meeting, Brigadier General Gadai described illicit drugs as an “existential threat” to Fiji and stressed the necessity of close cooperation between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Police Force (FPF). “Unity of purpose, unity in command, and unity in effort” will be critical, he said, and he assured personnel that required manpower, operational support and logistical resources had been committed to ensure the mission is carried out “effectively and professionally.”
SSP Ioane Vaisewa, speaking on behalf of the police, thanked the military for its longstanding support and reiterated the Commissioner of Police’s intention that both organisations work together to protect Fiji from the impacts of drugs and organised crime. He said the joint operations would set “a very high standard of cooperation, mutual respect, professionalism, discipline, and operational excellence,” signalling a formalisation of integrated planning and execution between the services.
Following the meeting, troops and police personnel from the Joint Task Force Command, together with Delta and Echo Companies, conducted a combined operational demonstration designed to showcase tactical readiness and interoperability. Senior officers described the demonstration as an immediate indicator of the forces’ preparedness to mount coordinated raids, interdictions and sustained presence where required across the Western Division.
The launch is the latest operational step in a broader national response to a worsening drug crisis that authorities and partner agencies have been addressing over the past year. The government has rolled out a “whole-of-nation” approach that includes community and faith groups, while international partners have funded prevention and youth protection programmes. Previous seizures and investigations have underlined the scale of the problem and helped drive moves to deepen enforcement capacity and inter-agency cooperation.
RFMF and FPF jointly issued a blunt warning to traffickers, suppliers and criminal syndicates, saying illegal drug activities “will not be tolerated” and promising that the task force “will relentlessly pursue those who profit from the suffering of our people.” The statement added: “There will be no safe haven for criminals involved in the illicit drug trade.” Authorities said the operation marks the start of a coordinated, long-term effort aimed at safeguarding national security, protecting future generations and restoring safety within communities across Fiji.
Officials did not disclose operational timelines, target areas or details of planned raids, but the combination of military logistics and police investigative powers signals a stepped-up enforcement posture in the West. The move will be watched closely by community leaders and civil society groups who have been pressing for both strong enforcement and complementary prevention and rehabilitation measures.