Concerns have been raised by village headmen in Lau regarding the alleged barter of marijuana by some youths on Moala Island for methamphetamine sourced from Suva. Reports compiled during visits to Moala and Vanuabalavu suggest that meth use is becoming prevalent among the young population on these islands.
The Fiji Police Narcotics Bureau in Suva has been informed, but they have yet to collect concrete evidence of meth activity in the area. It is believed that meth is being smuggled to the islands by Lau villagers who travel on passenger boats from Suva, capitalizing on minimal security checks at the wharf due to the limited police presence on the islands.
Young people in the Lau Group face daily exposure to methamphetamine and its trade through various avenues, including yachts, inter-island shipping, and online resources detailing meth preparation methods. The headmen from the 72 villages in the province have expressed their serious concerns that increasing meth use could disrupt the tranquility and lifestyle of island life.
Roko Tui Lau Jaji Kalounivalu noted that while marijuana cultivation and use have a long history on the island, reports from Vanuabalavu, Ono-i-Lau, Lakeba, and Moala about the presence of “ice” (a type of meth) have raised alarms. He emphasized that even if the current number of young meth users is small, the risk of rapid spread in the tightly-knit community is significant.
The Lau Group consists of over 50 islands, with only 19 inhabited, housing a population of about 80,000 people. Current statistics show around 6,800 villagers reside on the islands, with the majority of the youth being males aged between 10 and 30.
As part of this report, there are case studies from Moala and Vanuabalavu, revealing that marijuana cultivation, sale, and use among local youth have been a persistent issue. The discovery of packaged cocaine on some Lau islands in 2018 opened up possibilities for harder drugs to be trafficked within the region, raising fears about the emergence of meth.
Moala Community Post Officer Biutoka Vuli indicated awareness of a connection between a Moala group and a drug dealer with familial ties to the island, although evidence of meth presence has yet to be substantiated.
Indicators of drug use, such as early school dropouts, increased alcohol consumption, and interpersonal violence, have become apparent, leading local authorities to express alarm about the implications for community safety.
Dr. Fifita Niulevu, a medical officer on Moala, reported an uptick in assault cases linked to young people’s alcohol intake. Concerns grow that illicit drugs, including meth and cocaine, could infiltrate their communities, which currently lack preventive measures against such influxes.
Village headman Inia Cakacaka emphasized the belief that drugs are being transported from Viti Levu, voicing a strong call for government action to curb drug trafficking to the islands.
While Vanuabalavu reportedly sees no meth use, marijuana remains prevalent. However, community elders like Jione Kali express suspicions regarding drug trafficking activities connected to nets found floating offshore.
In 2018, a young boy discovered a package containing cocaine on Moala beach, which underscored the growing drug issues facing the region. Criticism has mounted against the police for inadequate surveillance of transport docks and the airport, enabling potential drug trafficking without sufficient oversight.
Stakeholders highlight the need for increased law enforcement visibility and action to prevent the spread of drug abuse in the region, emphasizing that drug problems do not discriminate based on community or social standing.