Verify police drug transport claims: Naivalurua

Minister for Policing and Communications Ioane Naivalurua says allegations that police officers are using Government vehicles to transport and sell drugs must be formally reported to Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu before any action can be taken.

Mr Naivalurua said a senior police officer’s public comments about the allegations should first go through proper channels.

“That’s a senior police officer. If he hears something like that, there’s a proper channel for him to follow it. And he submits that to the commissioner,” Mr Naivalurua said.

“But just to state out in public, and the media uses that as a basis that it’s a story, a true story, I cannot say that it’s true. But it needs to be verified.”

He described the allegations as serious and said due process must be followed.

“It’s a serious allegation. And it needs to be passed on to the commissioner. From there onwards, there is a process that needs to be followed,” he said.

The minister’s comments follow a public apology by senior Fiji Police Force officer Tevita Qounadovu, who told the Lami Women’s Forum on Tuesday that members of the public had alleged police trucks were being used to transport drugs.

Mr Qounadovu apologised on behalf of the force and warned officers involved they would face imprisonment.

“Anyone found guilty will be punished according to the law and will change the colour of their uniform from blue to orange,” he said.