Fiji records 42% spike in illicit drug cases and 52% increase in overall crime rate in July

The number of illicit drugs cases increased by 42 percent last month, having recorded 188 cases when compared to the 132 cases for the same period last year, according to the Fiji Police Force.

Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew says of the 188 cases recorded, 181 were related to the unlawful possession of illicit drugs and seven cases of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs.

46 cases were related to methamphetamine, one case for cocaine while the remaining 141 cases were linked to marijuana.

Lautoka recorded a significant increase from 4 cases in 2023 to 32 cases in 2024.

Of all cases relating to unlawful possession, 18 were for methamphetamine and the remaining 14 were for marijuana. A total of 163 people were charged for drug-related offences, where five were high school students.

The overall crime rate for the month of July increased by 52 percent when compared to the same period in 2023, and 17 percent when compared to the previous month of June.

Chew says the increase was related to cases of theft, assault and burglary.

The Acting Commissioner says 635 cases of theft were recorded last month compared to 327 cases for the same period last year.

He says three of the cases recorded multiple counts of theft from a restaurant, supermarket and a foreign exchange outlet where the amount stolen was approximately more than half a million dollars, and involved 6 employees of the three outlets.

The Acting Commissioner says assault cases recorded an increase of 96 cases, with 347 cases recorded last month compared to 251 cases during the same period last year.

He says worryingly, 83 cases were domestic related.

In relation to burglary, recording 236 cases, increases were recorded at the Lautoka, Valelevu, Nadi and Nabua Police Stations.

He says it was noted that while cases were recorded within urban and peri-urban centers, a notable number of reports were received from rural and maritime areas, in villages and settlements.

Chew says in July 2024, there were a total of 1,992 recorded crime cases and out of these, 171 cases were from previous years or months.

He says out of the 171 cases, 35 were theft, 15 were assault causing actual bodily harm, and 61 were sexual offences while remaining 60 cases were classified as other offences.

The Acting Commissioner has acknowledged the support of community leaders, religious organsations and the media for providing the platform needed for creating awareness.

He says the support has been overwhelming, and we are truly appreciative of the opportunity to work together.

Chew says there are issues that need a deeper level of collaboration such as crimes against women and children as they are moral issues, and identifying the root causes is key to finding solutions for the protection of women and children.