In the latest development in an unfolding drug-related probe affecting educational institutions, Fiji National University (FNU) has confirmed that police recently conducted an investigation at its Derrick Campus in Samabula. The university said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement but has not supplied further details about the nature of the inquiry or any individuals involved.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo‑Baba emphasised the institution’s “zero-tolerance approach to drug use and possession within all our campuses Fiji‑wide” and said the university was standing “resolute” in protecting the safety and wellbeing of its community. “The University cooperates fully with police authorities during their investigation,” she said in a statement released to the media.
Professor Nabobo‑Baba warned that firm action would follow if any student or staff member were found to have breached university policies. “If anyone is found violating our strict policies, they will face immediate removal from the University. There is no room for compromise when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our community,” she said, underlining that disciplinary measures would apply equally to students and staff.
FNU reiterated that under its Drugs, Alcohol, Kava and Tobacco Policy all campuses are designated drug‑free zones. The policy, the university said, clearly prohibits the possession, use or distribution of illegal substances on university premises and is intended to foster responsible, healthy lifestyles and a secure academic environment. The university added it will continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies as the investigation proceeds.
Police have not publicly disclosed details of the matter or whether any substances or suspects were identified during the Derrick Campus visit. As investigations remain active, FNU’s confirmation provides the first institutional acknowledgement of police activity on campus. In similar school and campus cases previously reported in Fiji, authorities have sent seized substances for forensic analysis and questioned students as part of inquiries, though those were separate incidents.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of heightened law enforcement focus on drugs within educational settings across Fiji. Earlier reports this year and last documented several probes and arrests involving students on school premises, prompting calls from education and policing authorities for strict enforcement and preventive education. FNU’s statement places the university’s response in line with that broader push for cooperation between institutions and police to address drug‑related matters.
No charges have been announced in relation to the Derrick Campus investigation. Officials from FNU and the police have not indicated a timeline for the inquiry’s conclusion or when further information might be released. The university said it will update the campus community and the public as appropriate while the police investigation continues.
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