THE Government has defended a reduction in funding for narcotics operations, saying the $1.6million allocated this financial year is sufficient to support the establishment and operations of Fiji’s Counter Narcotics Bureau.
The issue was raised in Parliament yesterday during the debate on the 2026-2027 Budget estimates when Opposition MP Premila Kumar questioned why funding had fallen from $1.9m in the previous budget despite the country’s growing drug problem.
“Considering that we have a lot of issues with drugs in the country, minister has to tell us, how did he use $1.9m, and now that the budget has been reduced, how will he try and deliver?” Ms Kumar asked.
Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said the reduction of $356,522 reflected the bureau’s transition from establishment to operations.
“This year’s $1.6m is sufficient to support all the plans in the establishment and the initial operation of the functioning of the Counter Narcotics Bureau,” he said.
Mr Naivalurua explained that last year’s allocation included the purchase of equipment for the bureau, resulting in lower funding requirements this year.
When Ms Kumar sought clarification that the allocation was solely for the bureau’s operations, Mr Naivalurua confirmed, “Yes. This unit here is held at my ministry”.
Asked where funding for joint anti-drug operations involving the Fiji Police Force and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was budgeted, the minister said it fell under operational funding.
“Most of the work now has been done at the police level,” he said, adding there would be “a gradual shift” towards the Counter Narcotics Bureau taking full responsibility for drug operations.
