Calls for stricter penalties for drug traffickers are growing as Fiji’s national consultation on a proposed Narcotics Bill continues.
Speaking at the Naulumatua House in Bua, consultant Jemesa Lave said there was a clear need to distinguish between traffickers and drug users, with harsher punishments for the former and supportive measures for the latter.
“There should be harsher penalties for drug traffickers and separate penalties for users,” he said, stressing that the law must reflect the realities of a growing and complex drug problem.
The consultation team is travelling across the country to gather public views before drafting the legislation. Mr Lave noted that current drug laws focus mainly on arrests, prosecutions, and enforcement, but were written at a time when drug issues were far less complicated.
“This law was written when drugs were not yet as complex as they are today.”
He added that rehabilitation must be embedded in the new legislation to help users recover and reintegrate into society.
Mr Lave also cautioned against simply importing foreign laws.
“We do not want to bring a law from another country and implement it here.
“It might work in the country it was copied from, but it may not work in Fiji. We need a law that suits our local context.”
Public consultations continue nationwide, aiming to create a framework that balances strict enforcement with culturally appropriate rehabilitation measures.
