“We are not going to treat this attack on our officers lightly”.

This is the warning from the Chief Operations Officer Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Maretino Qiolevu after two officers in the Western Division were attacked during a drug operation in the Western Division yesterday afternoon.

A joint operation consisting of officers from the Namaka, Nadi and Border Police were following information received of drugs being transported from Wailoaloa Beach.

Upon arriving at the scene two officers approached the parked taxi which they believed to have been transporting the suspects who were trading the illicit drugs.

Two men allegedly jumped out of the vehicle holding 2 large parcels and boarded a fibreglass boat which was moored nearby.

The two police officers pursued the suspects and while wading through waist deep water, one of the suspects allegedly threw a wooden oar which struck the first officer while the second suspect allegedly reversed the boat intentionally towards the other officer’s direction causing him dive for cover.

The two suspects fled the scene, however the driver of the taxi was arrested and is currently being questioned.

The identities of the two suspects are known to police and a team of officers have been deployed to arrest the duo.

ACP Qiolevu says the two officers could have been seriously injured which is why a team of officers have been deployed to arrest the two suspects as they are considered dangerous.

“These attacks are not going to be taken lightly because we are just doing our job and if you are going to be involved in illegal activities then you must stand ready to face the consequences”.

“We have gathered information of those involved and sooner or later we will get to these so called drug lords and peddlers”

ACP Qiolevu has also commended members of the public for assisting by providing information that have led to numerous drug related arrests since the beginning of 2019.