The Fiji Police Force’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), in collaboration with officers from the Western Division, captured a man believed to be significantly involved in the local illicit drug trade on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police – Crime (ACP) Mesake Waqa reported that the SOCU team had been compiling intelligence regarding the 29-year-old suspect’s role in drug distribution. A coordinated raid conducted at a residence in Lautoka led to the confiscation of white crystals identified as methamphetamine, white powder confirmed as cocaine, and dried leaves verified as marijuana.
Additionally, authorities seized smoking devices, a digital weighing scale, a packaging machine, and both local and international currencies suspected to be proceeds from criminal activity. Alongside the primary suspect, two other men and a 20-year-old woman were also arrested.
According to ACP Waqa, during the search, the 29-year-old reportedly released his dog and attempted to escape but was subsequently apprehended by the officers. SOCU previously operated as the Fiji Police’s Narcotics Bureau but recently rebranded following the establishment of the Counter Narcotics Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
ACP Waqa emphasized that the arrest of this key figure in drug distribution marks a crucial advance in the Fiji Police’s supply reduction efforts, in line with the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028. He noted, “The renaming of the Unit illustrates the Fiji Police Force’s comprehensive strategy to combat the illicit drug trade and related serious organized crimes, including money laundering, human trafficking, and arms smuggling.”
He reassured the community of the Fiji Police’s dedication to bringing major players in the illicit drug trade to justice, acknowledging that such endeavors require time due to an evidence-based approach aimed at ensuring successful prosecutions.
In a separate operation, three men and two women were apprehended in Namaqumaqua, Serua, where authorities seized various mixtures of white liquids and powders confirmed as methamphetamine.