The Fiji Police Force has expressed concerns regarding the production of methamphetamine in residential areas. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, has urged the community to assist in identifying places where these drugs are being manufactured.
ACP Driu stated, “We have received reports from the community indicating that individuals are starting to produce their own methamphetamine at home.” He warned that this practice is risky, as many of these individuals lack expertise and are mixing dangerous chemicals, which could pose a threat to public safety. He emphasized that addressing this issue is crucial in the ongoing battle against illegal substances.
In related claims, Kalesi Volatabu, the founder of Drug Free Fiji, asserted that local meth production has been occurring since 2019. “During our research in 2019, we gathered information from coastal communities, the Fiji Fire Authority, and the Fiji Police Force, revealing that these activities were already taking place in the communities and squatter settlements,” Volatabu revealed. She pointed out that instructional videos on how to produce meth are readily available online, and incidents of serious injuries, such as third-degree burns from manufacturing meth, have been reported. According to her, the ingredients for making meth are easily accessible in hardware stores and supermarkets.
The police have appealed to the public for assistance in locating these meth producers. ACP Driu noted that their drug operations in remote islands have mostly uncovered marijuana cultivation. “We have not found white substances in the remote islands, but we have encountered green drugs,” he said.
He added that their drug operations cover all five divisions, including the maritime islands, and emphasize awareness programs and police presence in areas like Moala and Vanuabalavu, Lau.
On the mainland, police have recorded a 37 percent increase in drug raids compared to the same timeframe last year. ACP Driu reported, “The situation is not spiraling out of control because we are receiving information about drug locations. We are making significant arrests and executing raids. However, the number of operations might decrease soon due to the rising cost of these substances.”