THE Government has shut down any prospect of a military-led drug sweep, saying the Republic of Fiji Military Forces will not replace the police and that it can only assist under strict legal limits.
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua said the illicit drug threat was being treated as a serious national harm, but stressed the response must remain lawful, disciplined and led by the appropriate civilian authorities.
“Drug investigations and enforcement operations must remain led by the Fiji Police Force,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
While inter-agency cooperation remained important, he said any involvement of the RFMF could only occur in a clearly defined support role and only with proper legal authorisation.
Mr Tikoduadua said if military support was ever requested, it would be carefully structured to ensure the police retained full control over all law enforcement decisions, including searches, arrests, interviews, evidence handling and prosecutions. Any role played by the RFMF would be limited to non-law-enforcement functions such as logistics, transport, planning assistance or mobility support.
“This ensures that military support complements, rather than replaces, civilian policing and preserves clear command, accountability and evidential integrity,” he said.
On the legal thresholds for any internal deployment, Mr Tikoduadua said the Constitution does not grant the military primary law enforcement powers.
He said any internal use of the RFMF would have to be consistent with the Constitution and written law, and would require proper written authority under the RFMF Act.
Operational requirements would include a formal request from the police department, clearly defined limits on the scope of support, written approvals, clear command and control arrangements, and safeguards to protect constitutional rights, criminal procedure and evidential standards.
Mr Tikoduadua said the Government had deliberately ruled out a military-led approach to drug enforcement for several reasons.
First, he said, maintaining a clear separation between military functions and civilian policing was a fundamental principle of the rule of law and essential to public confidence.
Second, policing involved specialised statutory powers and evidential procedures within a civilian framework.
Third, he pointed to provisions under the Police Act that allowed for increased policing capacity, including the appointment of special constables and other authorised persons, without militarising civilian law enforcement.
“This allows for surge capacity where needed, subject to the Act and ministerial oversight,” he said.
On alternative measures, the minister said operational drug enforcement strategies fell under the responsibility of the Minister for Policing.
At the policy level, he said the Government was guided by the National Countering Illicit Narcotics Strategy 2023–2028, which sets out a whole-of-government approach.
The strategy focuses on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, intelligence-led policing, strengthened border controls, and coordinated action across the police, customs, immigration, health and social services.
“Government’s role is to ensure this strategy is implemented in a coordinated and lawful manner, with agencies working together within their respective mandates,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua said the position of Government was clear.
“The response to illicit drugs must be firm, but it must remain lawful and civilian-led.
“The Fiji Police Force remains the lead agency. The RFMF may only be engaged in strictly defined support roles under proper legal authority and will not replace civilian law enforcement.”
In an interview on Monday, the Commander of the RFMF Major General Jone Kalouniwai said the drug problem is now existential threat that police cannot handle on its own.
“They (police) need the support of society, it needs the support of government in terms of a whole of government approach and the RFMF stands ready to assist,” he said.
