Community Outreach continued

A change in perception towards efforts in combating the illegal drug trade in Kadavu was noted during the recent Fiji Police Force Community Awareness Outreach.

The Director Community Policing Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bereta Naisua said the Outreach team consisting of senior officers, officials from the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and other Government departments focused on strengthening the vanua and religious partnerships with stakeholders noting that Kadavu was still deeply rooted in its traditional ways.

SSP Naisua said having officials from the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the Commissioner Easterns’ Office and the Kadavu Provincial Council gave villagers the chance to get issues clarified, in particular with the measures and actions to be taken against those involved in the cultivation of marijuana in their respective villages.

From the 19th of June 2020 till March 2022 there have been 121 reported drug cases in Kadavu.

These include the unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession of illicit drugs.

From these 121 cases there were 127 arrests, the highest number of those arrested were aged between 18-35 years, recording 86 arrests.

SSP Naisua says the intent of the outreach was to focus on how best the Vanua can assist the Fiji Police in the maintenance of law and order, the formations of crime prevention committees in villages, Tikinas and the provincial council.

She said the turnout of youths was very encouraging and there were positive responses from elders who assured the delegation of their support and assistance in eradicating drugs.

The visitation covered villages in the districts of Yale, Nakasaleka, Naceva and Ono.