The Fiji Police Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Joint Operations Team has successfully seized a total of 47,042 marijuana plants from 93 farms in the Northern Division with a total of 22 persons arrested while 68 others have been arrested at roadblocks and other searches in the Central and Eastern Divisions for being in possession of methamphetamine, other illicit drugs and proceeds of crime.
This has been confirmed by Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua who has assured the people of Fiji in Parliament that the Fiji Police Force remains fully in control of ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling, disrupting and destroying illicit drug networks and transnational organised criminal activities operating within our borders and maritime domain.
He has also acknowledged the outstanding support provided by international partners, particularly the Government of Australia, in assisting Fiji's law enforcement and security agencies in strengthening our national and regional response against transnational serious and organised crime.
Naivalurua confirms Australia has also agreed to work closely with Fiji in identifying priority areas for capability enhancement within Fiji's cyber and digital security environment.
He says in the area of maritime security, Australia agreed to support Fiji's efforts to strengthen maritime forward operating bases and enhance maritime patrol capability to better secure Fiji's territorial waters and maritime approaches.
The Minister says in the area of counter-narcotics, discussions recognised the growing nexus between maritime trafficking routes and illicit drug movements throughout the Pacific.
Australia has committed to supporting Fiji in maritime interdiction capability, joint Fiji Police Force and Australia Federal Police operations, and specialised training opportunities for Fiji Police Officers.
He says these outcomes significantly strengthened Fiji's operational and strategic capability in responding to evolving transnational threats.
Naivalurua adds that Fiji's response to transnational serious organized crime is strong in terms of the Fiji Police Bill 2026, which hopes to table this Thursday, the establishment of the Counter Narcotics Bureau, the Counter Narcotic Bill, which is also in process, maritime security coordination with the Maritime Essential Service Centre, invigoration and expansion of the Duavata community policing structures, strengthening of cyber security and resilience, and strengthening of regional operational partnership.
While responding, Opposition MP Virendra Lal says officers deserve our highest respect, appreciation and total support, however, he says public trust in the police is facing some real challenges right now.
He says people talk about it openly in our communities, but we must realise that this negative image is grossly unfair to the majority of dedicated officers who wear the uniform with total honesty.
Lal says to fix this problem and protect the good name of our force, the police leadership must be very firm and come down hard on the few bad apples who tarnish the uniform.
He says it does not matter what rank they hold and it does not matter how senior they are in the force.
Lal says that is the only way we can stand up for our good officers and win back full public trust.
