MANPOWER and resource shortages are consistent challenges faced throughout the Fiji Police Force, says Assistant Commissioner of Police Aporosa Lutunauga.
“It’s not only the division, but the whole of the Fiji Police Force that lacks manpower,” Mr Lutunauga said.
“As we’ve stated, we have 5085 officers, the whole of the Fiji Police Force.
“Given the changing security landscape and the evolving crime landscape, we need boots on the ground. We need eyes on the ground to assist us in maintaining law and order.”
Mr Lutunauga said the force’s statistics showed the vast majority of people involved in the drug trade were aged between 18 and 35.
“To those that are bringing it in, we are after you and we will pursue you because we want to protect our future generations.
“There’s always migration. When we strengthen our operations in the Southern Division, they migrate to the West.
“We know that these are networks. The drug cartels are networks, and they operate with intelligence also, because to them, they are operating on a network basis.”
He said the force would continue to work to dismantle and eliminate the drug trade.
