Villagers in Vuo, Labasa are on heightened alert following the unsettling discovery of a marijuana cultivation site close to their community last week. District Representative Penisoni Rokosi has denounced this illegal activity, asserting it misrepresents the values of the local residents. He emphasized that the operation appears to have been conducted by outsiders rather than the villagers themselves.
The illegal garden was uncovered by a local resident while on a pig hunting expedition, during which police subsequently uprooted 25 marijuana plants found cultivated in pots on the hills near the village. This marks the first instance of such activity occurring in Vuo, raising significant concern among the community about the negative image it casts upon them.
Rokosi stressed the need for stricter oversight by traditional leaders to prevent future occurrences, urging that any visitors to the village must report to the village headman, declaring their duration of stay. He highlighted that most drug-related offenses tend to be connected with non-residents, signaling a need for increased vigilance and community cooperation.
The local police are actively investigating the incident and have called on the public to remain watchful for any suspicious activities. This plea echoes broader concerns raised by Fiji’s law enforcement officials regarding marijuana cultivation, as emphasized by Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua. He has made similar calls to action in areas like Kadavu, where drug cultivation has persisted despite police interventions, stressing the importance of community involvement in addressing and deterring such issues.
In light of Vuo’s situation, local residents can take solace in the proactive measures being undertaken by both lawmakers and police to safeguard their communities from illegal activities. The collective effort to thwart marijuana cultivation and its normalization may indeed lead to a safer and healthier environment, enhancing the overall well-being of the residents.
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