The Fiji Police Force has issued a stern warning that anyone seeking to undermine the country’s stepped-up anti-drug campaign — whether by spreading misinformation online or by trying to sow discord within the security services — will face legal consequences, the Joint Taskforce said in a statement on Thursday.
“Anyone with the intent of derailing efforts, whether external or internal, will face the consequences in accordance with the law,” the taskforce said, stressing that intensified operations targeting illicit drugs and organised criminal networks will continue uninterrupted. The statement singled out social media as a potential vector for falsehoods and conspiracy theories, urging users to “take time to discern posts, to avoid being used by individuals advancing their agendas.”
The taskforce said it was particularly concerned about “persistent attempts to create division between security forces,” calling such efforts “highly questionable” at a time when operations are being escalated. Authorities also urged social media administrators to take responsibility for the material shared on their platforms and to verify and filter posts before publication, warning that careless or deliberate disinformation could impede investigations and public trust.
The latest warning follows a series of anti-drug actions in recent months. Police and partner agencies have carried out high-profile seizures and arrests, including a November operation that led to charges over an alleged cocaine import and a series of methamphetamine-related arrests in Suva in early January. Those operations, the taskforce said, have enjoyed “overwhelming support by the public,” a claim it used to question why some individuals had taken to discrediting the joint efforts.
The admonition comes amid a broader national debate about the role of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in counter-narcotics efforts. In December, Brigadier General Manoa Gadai, commander of the Joint Task Force Command, suggested a greater military role in the Inter-Agency Joint Counter Drugs Operation; Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka later clarified that the military should support, not lead, police-led actions. The taskforce’s new statement frames its warning as part of maintaining unity among security agencies while operations intensify.
Police also reminded the public that any allegations of misconduct by officers should be reported through formal channels so they can be properly investigated, rather than circulated informally on social media. The Joint Taskforce said formal complaints allow for due process and protect both the integrity of investigations and the rights of individuals involved.
By explicitly linking the threat of legal action to attempts to derail anti-drug work, the taskforce appears to be trying to close off avenues for organised disruption at a time when its operations are increasingly visible. The force’s appeal to platform administrators and its insistence on formal complaint routes underscore a dual approach: pursue criminal networks robustly while seeking to control the information environment that could hamper those efforts.