More than 14,000 marijuana plants estimated to be worth more than $40 million were discovered and destroyed in Kadavu in the past week.
The marijuana plants seized during the raids have all been destroyed after a court order to destroy the drugs was granted by Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili who was also in Kadavu conducting island court sittings.
[Image: Fiji Police Force]
Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says the use of drones during drug operations has drastically cut down the time used in major drug operations with more farms being discovered in a short period of time in what previously would have taken days of searching and trekking.
The first discovery was made on Monday in the hills of Gasele Village which resulted in the seizure of more than 2,900 plants weighing more than 430kg worth more than $23 million.
The second discovery on Monday was also in Gasele which resulted in the seizure of more than 8,300 marijuana plants weighing more than 1,200 kg.
[Image: Fiji Police Force]
$3 million worth of marijuana was seized in Gasele on Tuesday as more than 1,200 marijuana plants weighing more than 100kg was discovered.
On Thursday, a farm was located at Naikorokoro Village resulting in the seizure of close to 300 marijuana plants.
Yesterday, a man was arrested after the seizure of more than 1,300 plants from a farm in Naivakarauniniu Village while a separate raid conducted at the Nabutautau Settlement resulted in the seizure of more than 1,600 plants.
One suspect is in custody for the alleged cultivation of the marijuana found at Naivakarauniniu Village.
[Image: Fiji Police Force]
