Viral video of children’s recovery in Laucala Bay was per court order: Police

The Fiji Police Force has clarified the circumstances surrounding a viral video showing two children being recovered from their mother.

Police said Raiwaqa Police received a Recovery Order from the Nadi Family Court at 9pm on February 11, 2026.

The order directed officers to supervise the return of the two children and ensure there was no breach of the peace.

Before executing the order, an officer spoke with the children’s mother. After some time, she agreed to cooperate and handed the children to the applicant.

Police said relatives later tried to interfere during the recovery process, escalating the situation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media.

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said officers were carrying out their duties in accordance with the court order and the situation would not have escalated if there had been cooperation.

“We empathise with the children and what the families are going through. However, we also have a duty to carry out,” Commissioner Tudravu said.

“While we respect the use of social media to raise opinions and issues, we urge members of the public to try to get both sides of the story before commenting unnecessarily.”

He also urged family members to resolve matters privately instead of turning to social media, saying it could cause further harm and attract comments from people who did not fully understand the situation.