Government mobilises multi-agency taskforce as drugs and crime escalate

Fiji has stepped up its response to rising social pressures and criminal activity, with the Ministry of Justice convening the first meeting of a high-level, multi-agency taskforce aimed at tackling drugs, youth vulnerability and evolving crime trends.

The Combined Law Enforcement and Social Crisis Agency Taskforce, chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Justice, brings together senior officials from across the law and justice sector, alongside key partner ministries, in a coordinated national effort to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges.

The inaugural meeting signalled a shift away from siloed responses, with agencies agreeing that fragmented approaches were no longer sufficient to deal with complex issues such as illicit drug activity, at-risk youth, community safety and emerging crime patterns.

Senior representatives from policing, national security, education, health, human rights, rehabilitation services, community programmes and the justice system outlined their respective challenges, underscoring the need for solutions that combine enforcement with prevention and social intervention.

Key discussions identified gaps in operational coordination, outdated legislation and weak linkages between public services that continue to leave communities vulnerable at the grassroots level.

Improving information-sharing, strengthening community awareness and modernising legal frameworks were highlighted as urgent priorities.

The taskforce also agreed on the need for shared accountability, with agencies expected to take ownership of agreed actions rather than shifting responsibility across institutions.

The Ministry of Justice said the taskforce would now move to finalise priority interventions, report progress to agency heads and drive joint initiatives aimed at delivering measurable improvements in public safety, social stability and national wellbeing.

Officials say the taskforce marks the beginning of a more unified and sustained response to challenges that cut across law enforcement, social services and community resilience.