Yaqona Theft Escalates in Taveuni

Yaqona theft is escalating at an alarming rate in Taveuni, with two reports on average per day.

Acting Divisional Police Commander (DPC) North, Superintendent of Police (SP) Eroni Soqosoqo, said they had formed a special taskforce to address this matter.

SP Soqosoqo said extensive visibility patrols are being conducted on the farming highlands of Qila, Masasa, Ura, Qarawalu, Soqulu and Salialevu.

Members of the taskforce team have met with majority of the affected yaqona farmers in Taveuni and assured them of serious efforts to tackle this issue.

Yaqona is pounded into powdered form of kava, which is consumed by a vast majority of the population in Fiji.

During the police visibility patrols, they faced challenges themselves with the terrains and the harsh environment they had to move into to find culprits of this crime.

“These challenges will not stop us from disrupting these criminal networks,” he reiterated.

Police are working on some strong leads to arrest several suspects who are causing havoc to hardworking farmers.

These farmers depend on their mature yaqona plants for their livelihood and stealing the only source of income is worrying and crimnal.

SP Soqosoqo said Police had made some arrests over the past week.

“We are going to target receivers of stolen yaqona,” he said.

Police in Taveuni are proactively trying to arrest and disrupt criminal activities of stolen yaqona plants. Photo: Police Media Cell

SP Soqosoqo issued a stern warning to existing and future perpetrators of stolen yaqona.

“We are coming to your doorstep, you can run, but you can’t hide,” he said.

The police K9 dog on the island provides the extra support to locate perpetrators.

SP Soqosoqo said making an income should be encouraged, but, engaging in criminal practices to feed one’s household is not justified.

The demand for yaqona plants is massive with Taveuni farmers, not just selling in Taveuni but to the rest of the country.

The Labasa municipal market also had market vendors buying yaqona from Taveuni.

The price for yaqona at Labasa market has increased, with rainy conditions witnessed around the country.

SP Soqosoqo advised the public to report suspicious movement of new people in communities which could be linked to potential yaqona theft perpetrators.

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