Recent reports indicate that some youths in Lau, particularly on Moala Island, are trading marijuana for methamphetamine originating from Suva. This alarming situation has raised concerns among village leaders in the region.
Investigations conducted during visits to Moala and Vanuabalavu reveal that meth use appears to be on the rise among young people in these islands. The Fiji Police Narcotics Bureau has been notified of the situation, but officials have not yet collected conclusive evidence.
It is believed that meth is being smuggled into the islands by Lau villagers who travel on passenger boats from Suva, largely due to insufficient security checks at the wharf and limited police resources on the island. Young people in the Lau Group encounter methamphetamine daily through various means, including yachts, inter-island shipping, and online tutorials on how to produce the substance.
Village leaders throughout the 72 villages in Lau have expressed serious concerns that the proliferation of meth use could disrupt the peace and lifestyle of the islands. Roko Tui Lau Jaji Kalounivalu emphasized the council’s worry about the impact on community welfare and the future of the islands’ inhabitants.
Kalounivalu noted the historical context, stating, “We’ve always known about marijuana being cultivated and used on the island, but now we have received reports that ice is now in the islands.” He expressed concern about the potential rapid spread of this drug usage, citing the small population of Lau as a factor that could exacerbate the issue.
The Lau Group consists of over 50 islands, with only 19 inhabited, and hosts a population of approximately 80,000, according to census data. The majority of the youthful demographic is male, primarily aged between 10 and 30 years.
Drug use patterns have raised alarms among community leaders, particularly with an uptick in violent behavior and indications of drug-related issues among young males. Local medical officer Dr. Fifita Niulevu highlighted rising cases of physical assault linked to alcohol consumption, signaling deeper issues associated with drug exposure.
Village leaders believe that illicit drugs, notably meth, are likely entering the islands via shipping routes from Viti Levu. Jione Kali, an elder from Daliconi Village, suspected that nets tied to buoys found in the ocean could be part of drug trafficking operations.
In a historical incident, a young villager named Savenaca Ledua discovered a package containing cocaine on Moala beach in 2018, which further intensified fears about drug infiltration in the region.
Criticism has been directed at law enforcement for inadequate monitoring of transportation hubs, allowing for potential drug smuggling. Shipping industry representatives have called for increased police visibility and regulation to combat this growing concern.
As the coastal communities of Lau grapple with these emerging drug-related challenges, there is a unified call to action for more robust measures to deter the flow of illicit substances into the islands.