The Fiji Police Force reported a total of 534 incidents involving the theft of yaqona plants on Taveuni Island from October 2019 until October this year. This concerning trend was brought to light by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a parliamentary session, where he addressed a question from Group of Nine Leader Ioane Naivalurua regarding the rise in these thefts.
Mr. Rabuka acknowledged the surge in yaqona thefts, particularly highlighting an alarming increase between 2019 and 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that while theft instances decreased in subsequent years, a troubling uptick has been observed in 2024, with 82 cases reported from January to October alone.
Underlining the police’s efforts to tackle this issue, Mr. Rabuka mentioned the collaboration between law enforcement and local churches to combat the rampant theft of this culturally significant plant. He also pointed out growing incidents concerning green yaqona plant thefts, indicating a lack of regulations governing the sale and purchase of these plants.
To address this issue, the Fiji Police Force is advocating for the inclusion of regulations pertaining to the sale and purchase of green yaqona plants within the licensing criteria for all yaqona business operators.
In summary, the increasing incidents of yaqona thefts highlight ongoing socio-economic challenges that need to be addressed through community engagement and better regulatory frameworks. There is hope as the ongoing collaboration between the police and local organizations could lead to improved strategies for controlling these thefts and preserving the cultural heritage associated with yaqona.
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