The Fiji Police Force has reported that several farm raids, leading to the seizure of plants suspected to be marijuana, were carried out in Lau, Savusavu, and Ovalau within the past 24 hours.
Assistant Commissioner of Police – Operations, Livai Driu, stated that these raids are part of a divisional strategy aimed at disrupting the supply chain of illicit drugs by targeting both cultivators and distributors.
During the operations in Mavana, Vanuabalavu, Lau, officers discovered a farm with plants believed to be marijuana. In Ovalau, they seized over 300 such plants along with groceries that are thought to have been stolen from a school canteen. One individual is currently in police custody regarding this matter.
In another incident in the northern region, ACP Driu noted that the Serious and Organised Crime and Intelligence teams, along with Savusavu officers, executed a raid near Lea village, where they confiscated more than 600 plants, dried branches, and seedlings suspected to be marijuana. A 20-year-old farmer was arrested during this operation.
Furthermore, in the Southern Division, a joint raid by the Serious Organised Crime Unit and a task force in Tacirua resulted in the seizure of dried branches and small packets containing dried leaves believed to be marijuana. A 43-year-old man was taken into custody in this case.
All seized items have been sent for further analysis.