The Fiji Police Force has charged 135 individuals, including three students, with drug-related offenses, some facing multiple charges. Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci reported that 143 drug cases were recorded last month, a sharp increase compared to the same period last year.
According to ACP Raikaci, 138 of these cases pertained to the illegal possession of illicit drugs, while five involved the unlawful cultivation of such substances. The breakdown of cases included 26 associated with methamphetamine, five involving both marijuana and methamphetamine, and the remaining 112 solely linked to marijuana.
Raikaci noted that the overall crime rate for August 2024 rose by eight percent, with serious crimes increasing by 11 percent. The predominant offenses during the month included theft (411 cases), assault causing actual bodily harm (291 cases), and both burglary and aggravated burglary (189 cases).
He highlighted that although theft witnessed a decrease compared to the previous year, it remained a major contributor to the overall crime increase. Assault cases surged from 250 in August 2023 to 291 this year, with 86 of those cases being domestic in nature. Burglary incidents also increased from 164 cases last August to 189 this year, affecting urban, peri-urban, and rural areas alike.
Additionally, statistics indicated that robbery and aggravated robbery cases predominantly involved grab-and-run incidents, targeting mobile phones, handbags, wallets, and cash. In response to rising theft and burglaries, police have intensified efforts to target individuals receiving stolen property, aiming to diminish the root causes of these crimes.
Raikaci stated that police operations are already being geared towards the upcoming festive season, with plans to enhance strategies to counter the expected rise in theft and burglary cases during this busy time.