Authorities in Lau, particularly on the island of Moala, are expressing concerns over an alleged trade where local youth are exchanging marijuana for methamphetamine sourced from Suva. Reports gathered by Shine a Light during visits to Moala and Vanuabalavu indicate that meth use has become more prevalent among the younger population on the islands.
The Fiji Police Narcotics Bureau has been notified of this situation; however, they have not yet collected concrete evidence to substantiate these claims. It is believed that meth is smuggled to the islands by local villagers utilizing passenger boats from Suva, due to minimal security checks at the wharf and the limited police presence on the islands.
Young people in the Lau Group are increasingly exposed to both the usage and distribution of methamphetamine through various means, including yachts, inter-island shipping, domestic flights, and online tutorials on drug production. Village leaders from the 72 villages across the province have reported significant worries that meth use could drastically disrupt the community and lifestyle on the islands.
Roko Tui Lau Jaji Kalounivalu mentioned that while marijuana has long been cultivated and consumed on the islands, there are now concerning reports from places like Vanuabalavu, Ono-i-Lau, Lakeba, and Moala regarding the emergence of methamphetamine. He noted that although not many youths are currently using meth, the concern lies in the potential for rapid spread among the small population.
The Lau Group consists of over 50 islands, only 19 of which are inhabited, with an estimated population of about 80,000. A significant portion of the young population falls within the age range of 10 to 30, which raises further alarm regarding the drug issue.
Local observations indicate a troubling increase in drug-related behaviors among male youths, including school dropouts, higher alcohol consumption, and rising violence. Medical professionals on the island have reported a spike in physical assaults linked to alcohol-fueled incidents among youths.
Village headman Inia Cakacaka of Nasoki Village holds the belief that drugs are being brought to the island from Viti Levu via inter-island shipping. Meanwhile, there haven’t been confirmed cases of meth use on Vanuabalavu yet, where marijuana remains prevalent. There are suspicions about drug trafficking routes using the seas around the islands, as evidenced by unusual nets found tied to buoys.
A past incident in 2018, where cocaine packages were discovered on the shores of several Lau islands, has contributed to fears of hard drugs infiltrating the area. Despite previous police investigations and growing community concerns, there is still a significant gap in effective policing, particularly at key transit points such as wharves and domestic terminals.
Local shipping industry representatives and anti-drug advocates are urgently calling for increased police activity and awareness efforts to address the looming drug crisis before it escalates further in the Lau Group.