Drug abuse and trafficking threatens to rewrite Fiji’s story with addiction and suffering - Naivalurua

Drug abuse and trafficking are trying to rewrite Fiji’s story with addiction and suffering, a story written by greed that places profit above the well-being of our neighbours, families and children.

Minister for Policing, Ioane Naivalurua highlighted this while opening the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking week in the Western Division.

Naivalurua stresses the need to show a united front in the war on drugs as collaboration was key to achieving meaningful change.

He says Fiji has the power to change the story through the efforts of church leaders, community leaders, business leaders, education leaders, rehabilitation leaders, government leaders and the people.

The Minister says he is not interested in simply managing crime, he is committed to transforming their security landscape.

He further says that together with the Commissioner of Police, they are building a Force that is capable, responsive and ethically strong.

Naivalurua says that IDADAIT week is observed annually to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

The Minister adds that they are disrupting the criminal networks and also know that enforcement alone will not win this fight, they must tackle the roots – poverty, broken system and lost hope.