The police have called on Indo-Fijian faith-based organizations to take a more active role in addressing the country’s serious hard drug issue. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Reshmi Singh from the Fiji Police Force, statistics indicate a higher involvement of Indo-Fijians in drug dealing, use, and possession compared to iTaukei individuals.
ASP Singh highlighted that Fiji’s population is approximately 929,000, with Indo-Fijians numbering 348,375. From January to July this year, 0.9 percent (319) of Indo-Fijians reportedly used illicit drugs, contrasted with 0.15 percent (808) of iTaukei people from a population of 527,672.
She emphasized the need for transparency regarding the substance abuse challenges within Indo-Fijian communities, noting a correlation with rising domestic violence cases. ASP Singh pointed out that Indo-Fijians are more often found in possession of hard drugs like methamphetamines, which range in cost from $50 to $100 per sachet, a price point that is within reach for this community. In comparison, the iTaukei community predominantly consumes marijuana, typically costing around $10 per roll.
While acknowledging that some indigenous Fijians do use methamphetamine, she noted they often share it within their groups. “Indo-Fijians who work in respectable jobs tend to be the ones with greater purchasing power, leading to the higher numbers we’ve seen in drug seizures involving this community,” she stated.
ASP Singh also observed that indigenous Fijians are generally more proactive when it comes to drug awareness efforts, frequently engaging the police to discuss these concerns in their villages. She expressed disappointment regarding the lack of participation from Hindu and Muslim organizations in interfaith dialogues, indicating an absence of outreach from these groups to the police concerning the urgent drug issues that pose a threat to the youth of the nation.
In response, Mahesh Chand Sharma, national president of the Shree Sanatan Dharam Brahman Purohit Sabha Fiji, asserted that they actively engage with community members and parents on drug-related issues but did not see a need to involve the police directly. Pundit Vishnu Deo from the Shree Sanatan Dharam Purohit Brahman Maha Sabha Fiji acknowledged that while they have invited various groups to discuss substance abuse with the youth, they recognize the potential benefits of involving the police for more effective awareness campaigns.