The Fiji Police Force announced that 135 individuals, including three students, have been charged with drug-related offenses, with some facing multiple charges. Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci stated that police recorded 143 drug cases in July, an increase from the same period last year.
Of these cases, 138 were linked to the unlawful possession of illicit drugs, while five involved the unlawful cultivation of drugs. The breakdown of the offenses revealed that 26 cases were related to methamphetamine, five involved both methamphetamine and marijuana, and the remaining 112 were associated with marijuana.
Raikaci reported a rise in the overall crime rate for August 2024, with an increase of eight percent, and a rise in serious crime by eleven percent. The most prevalent offenses included theft (411), assault causing actual bodily harm (291), and burglary and aggravated burglary (189).
While theft saw a decline compared to August 2023, it remained a significant factor in the overall crime increase. Assault cases jumped from 250 in August 2023 to 291 this year, with 86 of those being domestic-related. Burglary cases also increased from 164 to 189 over the same period, affecting urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
Raikaci noted that statistics for robbery and aggravated robbery indicated that grab-and-run incidents were the most common, targeting mobile phones, handbags, wallets, and cash. The police have intensified efforts to target those allegedly receiving stolen property to address the root causes of theft and burglary.
As the festive season approaches, the Acting Commissioner of Police emphasized that their operations will be focused on countering theft and burglary since these crimes typically surge during this time.