The drug market is diversifying and manufacturers and dealers are becoming more innovative trying to find ways to evade the long arm of the law, as more-new psycho-active substances are being synthesized and are available more than ever before.
This has been highlighted by the Police Acting Assistant Commissioner for Planning and Internal Affairs Tevita Waqabaca at the Narcotics Workshop which is being facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Waqabaca says that the drug market is expanding and diversifying at a rapid pace and if they do not find ways to stay ahead of this devastating but yet lucrative market, they are going to be putting the lives of the people they serve at great risk.
He says that the Pacific is no longer free from the harmful effects of drugs.
Waqabaca says that they would often like to think that they are far away from the major drug markets and therefore the people are immune to its effects, however we all know the realities of what is happening.
He says that in Fiji, marijuana and methamphetamine are the two main drugs of concern, but they cannot completely rule out the possibility of these synthesized drugs entering the borders or being manufactured even if it is for experimental purposes.
Waqabaca says the mere fact that the cartels were bold enough to transport these drugs through our waters should continuously reinforce the need to work together to effectively address the world drug problem.
Waqabaca says that they are fortunate to have the assistance of renowned organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that have the capabilities and expertise to assist them in the war against drugs.
Meanwhile, the Officer in the Secretariat to the Commission of Nacortic Drugs Regina Rorhbach says that they hope to help combat the war on drugs.
Rorhbach says that synthetic drugs are a major problem in the Pacific and the region.
