The ongoing war against drugs is placing significant pressure on Fiji’s Police Force’s Forensic Chemistry Unit (FCU) laboratory. With an influx of drug cases, the unit is facing challenges due to the limited number of certified drug analysts. Miliana Werebauinona, the principal scientific officer of the unit, highlighted these issues during her presentation at the 2024 Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Annual Conference. She explained that nearly 3,000 drug cases have come into the unit, yet only nine certified analysts are available to process these cases before they proceed to court.
Ms. Werebauinona, who made history as Fiji’s first drug analyst certified by the Institute for Environmental Scientific Research (IESR) in New Zealand back in 2012, emphasized the urgent need for additional manpower and technical support to effectively manage the rising number of drug cases. The unit has benefitted from government support in acquiring lab equipment, enhancing its capabilities. However, as crime trends evolve, so too must the lab’s resources and structure to meet law enforcement’s needs.
Last year, the unit analyzed 2,666 drug cases, and as of last Friday, it had already processed 2,399 cases, a number that is anticipated to grow by year-end. Ms. Werebauinona pointed out the difficulty the unit faces in attending court cases simultaneously to present drug reports, which disrupts daily operations, particularly when all analysts are required in various court locations on the same day.
She proposed that ideally, there would be at least three drug analysts per division and additional laboratories to distribute the workload more effectively. Currently, the unit has one analyst in Labasa for the Northern Division and another in Lautoka for the Western Division. Additionally, they extend their services to other Pacific Islands, including Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Nauru, which rely on the unit for drug analysis.
Despite the limited resources and bureaucratic challenges associated with operating under the Fiji Police Force, the unit remains dedicated to fulfilling its critical role in combatting illicit drugs.
In summary, the Forensic Chemistry Unit is striving to maintain effectiveness in its rising workload despite facing personnel shortages and operational challenges. The positive aspect of this situation is the commitment shown by the unit to adapt and advocate for resources, and the support they are receiving from the government can pave the way for enhancements in service delivery. With strategic changes and additional staffing, there is hope for a more robust response to Fiji’s drug-related challenges in the future.
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