135 people including 3 students charged with drug-related offences last month

135 people includimg three students were charged with drug-related offences, with some facing multiple counts.

Acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci says they recorded 143 drug cases last month compared to the same period last year.

Raikaci says 138 were related to the unlawful possession of illicit drugs, and five were cases of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs.

He says 26 cases were related to methamphetamine, five cases related to both marijuana and methamphetamine and the remaining 112 cases were linked to marijuana.

Raikaci says the overall crime rate during August 2024 recorded an increase of 8 percent, whereas serious crime recorded an increase of 11 percent.

He says the prevalent offences for last month were theft (411), assault causing actual bodily harm (291), burglary and aggravated burglary (189).

The Acting Commissioner says while theft recorded a decrease in August 2024 compared to the same period last year, it was the main contributing factor to the increase in overall crime.

Raikaci adds assault cases rose from 250 in August 2023 to 291 this year.

He further adds that 86 of the cases were domestic-related, and burglary cases rose from 164 cases in August 2023 to 189 for the same period this year.

He says burglary cases were recorded in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

The Acting Commissioner says robbery and aggravated robbery statistics have shown grab and runs being the most common mode, where mobile phones, handbags, wallets and cash were items mostly targeted.

He says last month, concerted efforts have been made targeting alleged receivers of stolen property to cut the root source of theft and burglaries.

The Acting Commissioner stressed that their operations are already focused on the busy festive season, and they will align their strategies and measures to counter cases of theft and burglaries as it often records a spike during the period.