Vendors, Farmers Join Fight To Curb Drug Traffic In Market

Enhancing surveillance at the Labasa Market to monitor vendors allegedly involved in illicit drug sales is priority for the Labasa Town Council (LTC).

A crime prevention committee is in place to allow council staff to work with the Labasa Vendors and Farmers Association.

Collaborative approach

LTC special administrator chairperson, Paul Jaduram, said it should be a collaborative approach where the council was ready to work with the vendors association to curb these incidents.

Mr Jaduram said vendors who engaged in illegal practices, must rethink their actions because illicit drug peddling was a criminal offence.

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“Stop this act, because your livelihoods could seriously be affected, if found guilty,” he said.

Association vice-president, Waisea Makulau, commended the council for this iniatiative.

“We are ready to work with council to stop this illicit drug trade and every effort will be made by our members,” Mr Makulau said.

He commended police for continuing the good work already undertaken with the market post.

This collaboration enables for timely information or tips to be relayed to the police for immediate action to prevent the sale of illicit drugs.

46 CCTVs monitor market

Forty-six closed circuit television (CCTV) are installed at the vicinity of the Labasa market and Mr Jaduram believes this is to identify any suspicious activity or crime.

“We keep a close eye on our cameras to identify any vendors involved in this crime and if found, strict action will be taken,” he said.

There are 880 permanent and close to 400 causal vendors at Labasa Market.

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