Although Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has said in a statement after meeting with Army Commander, Major General Jone Kalouniwai, that the drug situation is controllable and manageable, contrary to public narratives, driven by disinformation on social media, there is confirmation that the investigation regarding the alleged involvement of some officers with drug dealers is still underway.
This has been made clear after fijivillage News asked Police to confirm if the investigation into several allegations against some police officers has been completed and if not, then why the statement is saying that there are a lot of false narratives.
We have asked what are these comments based on knowing that on the ground, people have noticed an increase in hard drug use including injectable drug use resulting in rising HIV cases and increasing cases of drug related mental health and addiction issues at Saint Giles Hospital.
The joint meeting was held yesterday between Commissioner Tudravu and Major General Kalouniwai at the Fiji Police Headquarters, with a consensus reached on the need to holistically tackle the illicit drug trade, through enhanced collaboration between the two institutions.
The statement says the RFMF Commander and his delegation were provided an overview of the drug situation in Fiji, law enforcement efforts from 2022 to 2025, which included seizures, investigations and arrests of known persons involved in both white and green drugs.
The Commander was also briefed on institutional measures in place to safeguard the integrity of the organisation, noting the allegations that have surfaced on the involvement of police officers in the illicit trade.
Major General Kalouniwai echoed sentiments by the Commissioner of Police, stating that based on the brief, it was evident that the fight was no longer limited to the war on drugs, but a war on narratives, as a group of individuals remained intent on spreading false narratives to advance self-interests, which have unfortunately been detrimental to public perception of the Fiji Police Force and the nation.
The Commander of the RFMF, in his remarks, acknowledged enforcement efforts, whereby operations have prevented large volumes of drugs from entering Fiji’s communities.
He stressed that the RFMF would continue to support law enforcement efforts, noting the shared challenges and limitations of resources.
The brief ended with a consensus to convene a joint planning meeting between the two forces to take place this week, enhance sharing of intelligence and information, and to explore ways to support community policing efforts by showing a united front in the war on drugs.
The Commander recognized that the allegations made against members of the Fiji Police Force were impacting public confidence, with immediate disciplinary action demanded of the Commissioner, however, stressed that it was important for processes to be followed in accordance with the rule of law.
Major General Kalouniwai reaffirmed the RFMF’s supporting role, adding a holistic approach was crucial in addressing internal and external challenges confronting efforts of disrupting the illicit trade.
We have asked the Commander about the issue regarding the claimed false narratives. He has not made any comments.
