The establishment of a Drugs and Narcotics Bureau, the review of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Act 1949 and the review of the Police Act 1965 are some of the goals and strategies in the the National Development Plan 2025-2029.
The Plan states that the goals are to launch a national awareness campaign on drugs, enhance enforcement and the legal framework to disrupt the drug trade and hold those responsible to account, collaborate with community and faith-based organisations to create awareness on drug abuse, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and enhance inter-agency cooperation, both domestically and internationally to effectively tackle drug trafficking networks.
They also aim to strengthen Fiji’s involvement in international peacekeeping and security, enhance regional and international cooperation to help strengthen relations with national security partners and allies, strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation by building capacity at all levels to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
The Plan states that they aim to safeguard national borders and Exclusive Economic Zones, strengthen maritime surveillance systems and patrols to eliminate illegal fishing and human trafficking and strengthen border controls to minimise entry of illegal drugs through the sea.
They further state that the goals are to provide adequate funding for Police resourcing including adequate manpower, vehicles in both urban and rural areas, increase police visibility and police patrolling, strengthen community-based policing including awareness on illicit drugs, foster professionalism, confidence in and accountability of the Police Force, with an open and transparent Police Standards, authority within the Force to discipline Police brutality, extrajudicial violence, and prevent corruption.
Major Drug bust in Nadi
They also aim to enhance intelligence driven crime prevention and investigation enforcement agencies, collaborate with bilateral partners on transnational crime, strengthen the capability and capacity of Police to tackle cybercrime and emerging transnational crime, develop tactical and strategic approaches to combat the emergence of organised criminal networks, including illicit trade in strategic goods and adherence to the UN Security Council Resolution 1540, is crucial.
The National Development Plan states that they aim to formulate and implement the Fiji Police Service Plan and Master Plan to improve infrastructure and use of technology to improve policing, improve police response to gender-based crimes by establishing green room initiatives for gender-based violence in all policing districts, and strengthen collaboration with community and faith-based organisations on awareness and education towards fighting crime.
The Plan says the Fiji Police Force faces challenges of repeated accusations of Police violence however, it is focusing on making improvements with assistance from international partners.
It says they have adopted a Use of Force Policy where any form of force through officer involvement, or that established from the community for torture, death, violence or trafficking relative to women and children has a compulsory reporting requirement.
Drug related cases have increased significantly.
They were related to unlawful possession of illicit drugs, unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs, and unlawful transfer and supply of illicit drugs.
The number of drug cases in schools has also seen an increase.
Although the police have proactively taken measures to address the issue, there is a need to increase awareness and introduce a more comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue of illicit drugs.
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