A new twist in the illicit drug trade has emerged.
Yesterday, the Fiji Police Force revealed that Government number plates are being used for the transportation and peddling of illegal substances.
Police confirmed that unidentified drug peddlers are now exploring and using new trends to transport drugs. It is understood that some vehicles carried genuine Government number plates while others were fake.
Police said discoveries were made at routine traffic checkpoints.
“This is a part of the Police routine where we stop vehicles and check for its documentation and other stuff,” Police said in a statement.
“Police also create awareness for drivers on safety issues and crime trends. This is part of the work we do every day. It has been ongoing before the concern was raised.”
Police are again calling on members of the public to help them fight the drug battle. It is a shared responsibility that needs the assistance of all facets of society.
Narcotics Strategy
The government launched the National Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028 last week.
The strategy looks into eliminating illicit trafficking, which has become a major challenge for Fiji’s security driven by a combination of factors.
Last month, Cabinet approved the establishment of a Narcotics Bureau to address the illicit drug problems.
In the 2024-2025 National Budget, $2 million is invested to set up this bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Minister for Finance Biman Prasad said the Narcotics Bureau will focus on law enforcement, investigations, prosecution, intelligence gathering, and conducting awareness in collaboration with key agencies.
Mr. Prasad said the Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023-2028 with a focus on seven strategic areas, including demand reduction, supply reduction, harm reduction, legal reform, data collection, establishment of a Drug Court, and partnership and international cooperation.
Budget
Police have been allocated $226.8 million, an increase of $43.1 million from the 2023-2024 budgetary allocation of $183.7 million. Mr. Prasad revealed that a drug rehabilitation centre in Fiji would soon be introduced to address the growing concern of people being affected by drugs.
He said the government has introduced a tax holiday of 13 years, including duty-free importation of capital goods required for the establishment of the centre.
The government is going to provide a full tax deduction for businesses that donate to any drug rehabilitation centre. Mr. Prasad said that while they encourage non-governmental organisations, the government had been exploring options for the set-up of such centres.