New Drug Practices Emerge
Police have discovered new practices that are rapidly transforming the illicit local drug trade.
One, used in many countries, is the use of syringes (needles) to administer drugs in dark corners of our cities and towns.
Second is the use of super glue in marijuana cultivation.
The discovery comes as Police, under the direction of Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, have stepped up their drug war. The ultimate aim is to eradicate the illegal drug trade.
In the latest trend, Mr Qiliho revealed that while investigating a case where FijiFirst youths were assaulted, Police came across CCTV footage showing young Fijians being injected with drugs.
“The footage showed a woman administering drugs using needles to inject the veins of the users. She seemed very professional, tapped the arms to identify the veins as doctors do when they look for veins to put in the IV lines.
This woman was seen doing that, and she injected a number of the younger kids with some sort of drugs.”
He confirmed that the same group went on to assault the young political party workers.
The discovery of the new trend shows Police drug operations are making positive progress.
Over the last two years, various drugs with a street value of more than $200 million were confiscated and are in Police custody to be used as court exhibits.
Mr Qiliho confirmed that they were working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde to get court orders to destroy large quantities of drugs.
Some of the drugs in Police exhibits include: Lysergic acid diethylamide which is commonly known as LSD, hashish which is a very potent part of the cannabis plant, Methamphetamine which is also produced locally now using over the counter products, cocaine and marijuana.
Mr Qiliho is adamant that Fiji will not become a drug hub and his force will not allow drugs to become a problem in Fiji.
In Tonga it is a big problem.
Mr Qiliho said while they acknowledged that drug abuse was a global phenomenon they were ready to tackle this problem head on.
He has started a restructure of the entire Police force which will see the formation of a new unit under a new director – the Director Narcotics.
Apart from strengthening border patrol, some of the ways the Police and the Government plan to tackle this problem is to clamp down on ingredients and chemicals which local people use to produce methamphetamine.
The Government is exploring ways to counter the drug trade and intends to introduce Bills in Parliament which will make it harder for people to bring those ingredients into Fiji with special licences being required to bring in these chemicals.
Edited Naisa Koroi
