Students on Koro Island have been discovered engaging in marijuana possession and distribution within their school, as reported by Tevita Vunileba, chairman of the Koro Island Crime Prevention Committee.
In a conversation with a local news outlet, Vunileba noted that teachers at Koro High School, along with the police and the committee, had identified these students earlier this year and provided them with counseling. He mentioned that some students were advised to enroll in different schools, while others faced expulsion.
“The students have been utilized to sell marijuana on behalf of dealers,” Vunileba stated, explaining that there were multiple intermediaries involved in the transactions. The sales profits were funneled through these middlemen before reaching the original supplier.
The investigation also revealed that those participating in this illicit activity were habitual offenders, with records of being suspended multiple times before facing expulsion. Vunileba highlighted the community’s concern that these students could potentially influence younger children in primary school.
He expressed appreciation for a cadet program initiated this year at Koro High School, which has established discipline and positive change among students. “The cadet program has transformed students in many ways,” he remarked.
As the cadet day approached, students initially resisted the requirement to cut their hair. Vunileba shared that he was asked to cut his hair to set an example as the committee chair, noting that the response from parents was positive.