Fijians convicted of crimes overseas and deported home are helping keep drugs flowing into the country, Ministry of Policing’s Inspector Jemesa Lave warned yesterday.
“These are Fijian nationals who committed a crime, they served time and they were deported to Fiji after serving their time,” he said during the public consultation on the draft Counter Narcotics Drug Bill in Lautoka.
Many deportees return to old contacts and habits, creating a local pipeline for drugs.
“As long as criminal deportees are active, the drugs will keep coming in.”
He stressed reintegration is critical.
“If the criminal deportees get back to Fiji and they reintegrate back into the community that does not turn into an issue with us.”
He cited Tonga’s model, where returnees are welcomed by NGOs and used to educate communities about drug dangers.
Public submissions on the proposed legislation will close at the end of this month, as authorities explore ways to curb the influence of deportees on Fiji’s drug problem.
