Eighteen individuals have been apprehended this year for possessing illegal drugs, marking a concerning trend in local communities. Among the arrested are two juvenile students, one of whom was detained on New Year’s Day, alongside a woman who was arrested this morning.
The New Year saw a 17-year-old student from Lami Village taken into custody after being found with a zip lock bag and five sachets of what is believed to be marijuana. A second juvenile, a 16-year-old from Nauluvatu, was arrested shortly after for possessing 11 sachets of the same substance.
Other arrests included a 30-year-old baker from Wailea, who was found with six sachets, and a 35-year-old farmer from Kilikoso, Labasa, caught with nine sachets. A 42-year-old unemployed man from Qelewaqa Labasa was stopped at the Labasa market taxi stand and found in possession of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.
Continuing the trend into the second day of the year, authorities apprehended a 35-year-old farmer from Nakoba Village with three sachets and a 32-year-old laborer with nine at the Labasa Market. A 40-year-old man from Qelewaqa was also arrested at the Labasa Bus Stand with 11 sachets.
On day three of the new year, police patrols led to the arrest of four young men on Queens Road in Lautoka, who had 48 sachets of marijuana. In a separate incident yesterday, a 58-year-old man was arrested in Suva for possessing eight sachets, while a 26-year-old was detained in Kinoya and another 24-year-old in Nausori for holding substances believed to be methamphetamine.
Moreover, police discovered and confiscated 334 green plants believed to be marijuana during a training exercise in Tukavesi. A female suspect was also apprehended this morning for possessing a plastic bag containing methamphetamine.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, emphasized the importance of community involvement in combatting drug-related issues. He highlighted the valuable information the police received from community leaders and families concerned about the potential harm drugs could inflict on their children. Driu stated, “We will continue with the war against drugs, but we cannot do it alone. We need everyone’s support.”
While this situation reflects a pressing challenge for law enforcement, the community’s proactive involvement signifies a collective effort toward creating a safer environment for future generations. It is hopeful that with collaboration and persistent efforts, we might see a reduction in drug-related crime and a corresponding improvement in community welfare.
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