Five high school students were among 163 individuals charged with drug-related offenses last month. Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew, announced the crime statistics for July, highlighting a 42 percent increase in drug-related crimes. A total of 188 drug cases were documented this year, up from 132 during the same period last year.
Commissioner Chew stated that among the 188 recorded cases, 181 pertained to the unlawful possession of illegal substances, while seven involved the unlawful cultivation of drugs. The breakdown of specific substances shows that there were 46 cases involving methamphetamine, one case of cocaine, and 141 cases associated with marijuana.
Lautoka experienced a notable rise in drug cases, jumping from four cases in 2023 to 32 cases in 2024. In terms of unlawful possession, 18 cases were related to methamphetamine, with the remaining 14 concerning marijuana.