Tailevu is moving to shut the door on drugs, rolling out a tough new community-led strategy that puts “drug wardens” on the ground and eyes on its coastlines.
The Tailevu Provincial Council has launched a multi-tiered security plan covering all 22 districts, combining traditional leadership with village-level surveillance and coastal monitoring to curb drug use and trafficking. Chairman Ratu Semi Matalau said the initiative empowers chiefs and village leaders to act early, targeting settlements on native lands and vulnerable waterways believed to be exploited by traffickers.
“Primary committees have been formed in some villages to observe and uphold the law in their respective districts (tikina), and a secondary committee that oversees the province,” he said.
“This committee’s role is to advise its chiefs and village leaders on the effects of drugs in its quarterly meetings.”
The plan focuses on settlements on native lands, particularly those occupied by outsiders, which leaders fear are becoming hubs for illegal activity.
“The committee’s role is also to monitor settlements that are on native lands for narcotics. These are settlements occupied by outsiders.”
He added that the province is following the lead of Tui Vuda and Tui Sabeto in Ba, which have successfully combined traditional leadership with strict community monitoring.
“The province of Tailevu is also moving towards the same principles that Tui Vuda and Tui Sabeto have taken.”
In coastal areas, specialised wardens have been deployed to safeguard waterways, supporting the Fiji Police Force and Fiji Navy in curbing drug transport by sea.
But Ratu Semi says enforcement alone is not enough.
The council is also focusing on prevention through economic empowerment, particularly for young people.
“The solution starts with leadership from our government leaders, chiefs, churches and families.”
He called on the government to invest in a dedicated “youth market” to give unemployed youth a legitimate platform to sell agricultural produce and fresh catches, helping to steer them away from drugs.
Ratu Semi said the council’s community-focused, proactive approach shows what can be achieved when local leaders, families, and law enforcement work together.
“We are working on an approach that will enable our people to eradicate drugs in villages and settlements,” he said.
