Govt considering increased penalties for drug offences as 65% of arrests involve youths aged 18–35

The government is looking at increasing penalties for drug offences, with the most affected age group being Fijians between 18 and 35 years, who account for 65 percent of all drug-related arrests.

This has been highlighted by Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga in Parliament while responding to a question from Opposition MP Jone Usamate on the proposed changes.

Turaga says recommendations to amend penalties have been “wide-ranging, emotional, solicited and unsolicited,” coming from both government and non-government stakeholders.

He stresses that any changes must align with the National Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023–2028 and be grounded in a strong legal framework.

The Minister highlighted the categories of sentencing in Parliament with those people caught with up to 5 grams will be given a 2 and half years to 4 and half years imprisonment sentence, while those found with more than 5 grams to 250 grams can face upto 3 and half to 10 years imprisonment.

Turaga says people caught with more than 250 grams to 500 grams of drugs can receive a prison sentence of 9 years to 16 years.

He says those caught with more than 500 grams to 1kg receive a 15 years to 22 years imprisonment.

He adds those caught with more than 1kg can receive a sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment.

He says sentencing guidelines are already in place, supported by improved judicial training and evolving case law.

Turaga also highlighted the age group being affected by drugs are those in the age range of 36 to 55 years, contributing to 29 percent of the arrest.

He says juveniles below 18 years represent 4 percent of the arrests, while 56-year-old and older account for a smaller percentage of arrests.

He says the iTaukei community is disproportionately affected, making up 80 percent of drug-related arrests in the first half of 2020.

In terms of gender, men account for 98 percent of drug-related arrests.

Turaga further highlighted that many of those arrested are farmers or unemployed, and that young iTaukei men remain particularly vulnerable to involvement in drug-related activities.