Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua is aware of the “dangerous people” the Fiji Counter Narcotics Bureau will confront and may consider arming the bureau in the future. In an interview with The Fiji Times’ online news portal The Lens@177, Mr. Tikoduadua emphasized that their primary goal is to ensure the bureau is adequately equipped.
“So whether it’s in the area of information gathering, raiding, tactical operations, or potentially arming them, that’s something we’ll have to decide in the future,” he stated. “Obviously, they’ll be dealing with dangerous individuals,” Mr. Tikoduadua acknowledged.
He stressed the need for thorough preparation and equipping of the bureau to ensure they are capable of handling their duties efficiently. “Whether it’s in the area of information gathering, raiding, tactical operations, or arming them, we’ll need to determine this in the future.”
Additionally, Mr. Tikoduadua highlighted the importance of revisiting laws to enable the bureau to perform their work effectively. “This is a long-term endeavor; it’s not an immediate solution. I have two years remaining in my role. The next person who takes over will need a set of laws they can work with and amend based on the nature of the threat,” he explained.
He also noted that the bureau must be properly resourced and mentioned they are in the process of securing an interim office. Mr. Tikoduadua revealed that a particular location has been identified for their operations, stressing the importance of a dedicated and well-equipped workspace.
“We want to establish it as part of a government department within the Ministry of Home Affairs. They need to be a dedicated authority and, at the same time, well-equipped and capable,” he concluded.