150 Pigs Worth $60K Allegedly Stolen From Vuda Piggery

Police is investigating an alleged livestock theft where 150 pigs, with a monetary value said to be of $60,000, were reported stolen from the Vuda Piggery in Lautoka.

Business owner Simon Cole said the alleged theft took place over two nights about two weeks ago.

“Now agricultural theft is possibly the biggest in the country, 20 per cent of the stuff that is grown doesn’t get sold by the person who grew it,” Mr Cole said.

“It’s very hard to count pigs because they’re moving around all over the place. It’s also very hard to prove because you change the pens around, and the next week it might be up one or two, but the overall trend is down.

“I put on two night watchmen but they aren’t seeing anything and then two or three weeks ago, 150 pigs went missing. We think they (thieves) went on Wednesday night and then came back again on Friday night and took more. That is a business threatening loss, it’s a loss we cannot insure.”

Vuda Piggery owner Simon Cole. Photo: Salote Qalubau

He said he lodged a report at the Lomolomo Police Post which was transferred to the Lautoka Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“The pigs are 15 to 20 kilogrammes each. This is a well-organised theft. It’s not just the casual ones for the Sunday lunch or dinner, we are talking hundreds of pigs and they are going to sell them somewhere. 

“They were suckling pigs which are very expensive.”

No luck nearby

He said Police checks in neighbouring villages yielded no results.

The Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways, Andrew Tukana confirmed receiving a report on the alleged incident.

“Theft is theft, but in terms of agriculture, we are working with police to try to raise awareness on securing livestock. My advice would be to secure crops and livestock against theft and step-up efforts to protect them,” he said.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police Livai Driu confirmed the report and an investigation is underway.

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