9 arrested for illicit drugs

The Fiji Police Force’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), with officers in the Western Division, arrested a man believed to be a key player in the local illicit drug trade on Friday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police – Crime (ACP) Mesake Waqa said the SOCU team had been gathering intelligence and information in to the 29-year-old suspect’s involvement in the distribution of drugs, and the joint raid conducted at a home in Lautoka, resulted in the seizure of white crystals confirmed to be methamphetamine, white power confirmed to be cocaine and dried leaves confirmed to be marijuana.

ACP Waqa said also seized were smoking apparatuses, a digital weighing machine, a packing machine, and local and foreign currencies believed to be proceeds of crime.

Arrested alongside the 29-year-old were two other men and a 20-year-old woman. ACP Waqa said during the execution of the search warrant, the 29-year-old suspect allegedly released his dog and tried to flee the scene but was pursued and arrested by officers.

In another raid, three men and two women were arrested in Namaqumaqua, Serua. ACP Waqa said seized during the raid were mixtures of white liquid and white substances confirmed to be methamphetamine.

ACP Waqa said SOCU had previously operated as the Fiji Police’s Narcotics Bureau and recently changed its name, following the formation of the Counter Narcotics Bureau operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.

He said the arrest of the individual considered to be a key player in the distribution of white drugs is a significant step towards the Fiji Police’s role of supply reduction as stipulated in the Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023 to 2028.

"The renaming of the Unit also reflects the FPF's comprehensive approach to tackling the illicit drug trade and associated serious organized crime such as money laundering, human trafficking and arms smuggling to name a few."

ACP Waqa reassured members of the public that the Fiji Police is committed to seeing key players in the distribution of illicit drugs brought to justice, adding such efforts take time noting the evidence based approach to ensure a successful prosecution.