Students on Koro Island have been discovered selling and possessing marijuana while in school, raising serious concerns about drug use among youth. This troubling situation highlights a disturbing trend that many believe is reflective of wider issues in the country.
Tevita Vunileba, chairman of the Koro Island Crime Prevention Committee, reported that local teachers, police, and the committee have identified students involved in these activities and have counseled them. Some were advised to transfer to different schools, while others faced expulsion. Vunileba noted that many of these students are acting as dealers for others, often as repeat offenders who have faced multiple suspensions before being expelled.
This issue is not isolated to Koro Island. There have been reports across the nation concerning students caught with harder drugs, underscoring a growing national crisis. This situation has been developing over the years; in 2018, then Police Operations Chief ACP Rusiate Tudravu warned that methamphetamine could pose a significant security threat if left unaddressed. He indicated that meth was being produced locally through illicit activities.
Previously, in September 2017, Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho expressed concerns about meth use among teenagers, revealing instances of parents seeking help for their children’s drug problems. He highlighted the need for timely action to prevent a more severe crisis.
The current challenges must be contextualized within this ongoing issue. The involvement of students in drug trafficking and usage points to a deeper societal problem that requires immediate attention. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and responsive to the damaging effects of drug abuse and trafficking in our communities.