The revelation that the Fiji Police Force has discovered illicit drugs more lethal than methamphetamine being produced locally is a major concern.
In fact it must initiate discussion at all levels of society.
Any suggestion that this is produced locally will prick at the very heart of society, and draw fear and concern.
Where are we headed to? If we are concerned about our children, then this revelation must enable and empower us to make a stand now.
Fiji Police Force Drugs Unit officer in charge Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anare Masitabua made the revelation recently.
He said police intelligence reports have revealed there are various clandestine laboratories in the Western and Eastern divisions.
That tells us the extent to which the illicit drug trade has infiltrated our communities.
Now more than ever, we must stand up as Fijians to empower our people to be aware of the dangers of hard drugs.
People, ASP Masitabua said, were resorting to the “bath tub method” to produce an illicit drug far more dangerous than methamphetamine.
“The impact of methamphetamine on the life of a drug user could be very dangerous,” he said.
He said it was more concerning that people were now using “crap substances when manufacturing illicit drugs”.
“Some use cleaning detergent to extract sulfide acid to cook meth.
“But in other cases, they use the whole chemical such as rat poisoning to cook drugs, which could give a same high as meth but more damaging.”
He said police have also discovered people manufacturing pain killers that could give the same high as meth. What all this means, he pointed out, is that people know how to make drugs similar to methamphetamine.
“There is a rapid increase in the usage and seizure of methamphetamine and other synthetics; this shows that methamphetamine is locally manufactured.”
The advent of the digital age has meant that many things cannot be taken for granted.
Drug pushers, farmers and dealers have technology on their side, much like police officers.
Mobile phones mean easier and faster communication. It means being able to conceal things and being able to be a step ahead of the law.
Faster vehicles mean flexibility and accessibility for delivery and the internet has made ‘reach’ a whole lot easier to attain.
Readily available and competitive data bundles mean communication lines can stay open longer.
In every positive gain we have, there are people who will exploit loopholes.
Now more than ever, our police force needs our support.
We can do nothing, or we can talk about the reality on the ground and stir up emotional responses from the masses.
The police need numbers on its side.
That will carry weight, enough to be a threat to the movers and shakers behind the illicit trade in our country.
Again, we can do nothing, or we can choose to stand up against people who will shrug aside the wellbeing of Fijians for financial gain. The drug trade is lucrative.
So much so that there are people prepared to flirt with the law.
The numbers are staggering and frightening.
We acknowledge the work of the police and other stakeholders.
Figures being floated around point at an industry worth millions of dollars, easily making this a very lucrative proposition!
Overcoming this challenge requires a concerted effort from every stakeholder, from the State, to the average man and woman on the street.
