Police Officer charged with unlawful possession of meth and cocaine

A police officer based at the Lautoka Police Station has been charged with alleged unlawful possession of methamphetamine and cocaine.

He will appear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court today.

Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew says the officer was stopped by a team on patrol in Natabua on Tuesday where a search was conducted after he was found acting suspiciously.

He says two plastics containing white substances were found.

ACP Chew says a team from the CID’s Major Crime Unit was deployed to Lautoka to conduct the investigation, where the substances were tested and confirmed to be methamphetamine and cocaine.

He says independent legal advice was then sought from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Lautoka, under the transparent handling of any investigation against a police officer.

The ODPP has charged the officer with two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.

He further says that as the legal proceedings take its course, the officer, after exhausting his leave, will be interdicted with half pay pending the outcome of the court case.

Chew adds Fiji Police’s commitment to maintaining and upholding the highest standard of professionalism by ensuring that officers are held accountable for their actions.