Police-RFMF taskforce targets more than drugs, says minister

The operations of the Fiji Police Force and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) joint taskforce is not limited to only drug raids.  

Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said the joint taskforce was also established to tackle other associated criminal activities.  

The joint taskforce team comprises police and military intel, including senior officers of both institutions.   

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) Kasiano Vusonilawe, who heads the joint taskforce, says intelligence that is shared with the taskforce is verified before teams are deployed on the ground.   

Mr Vusonilawe said assessments were done to determine the accuracy of the information and if there were any associated threats.   

“Verifying information that we receive is important because there could be some that are just based on personal grudges.  

“Some intel we receive require immediate deployment, while some may require further investigation before we act.”  

The military is only deployed if requested by Police.  

The RFMF Strategic headquarters communicates information to the Land Force Command (LFC) before a team from the LFC is deployed.