THE discovery of ammunition in parts of the country is not an indication of a wider threat.
Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua made this reassurance after RFMF Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai announced that 246 live rounds of 5.56mm ammunition were voluntarily handed over to the military in the Nausori area on May 16, 2026. Several magazines and magazine pouches were also surrendered and are now in RFMF custody for further assessment and investigation.
Mr Tikoduadua said investigations would determine the source of the ammunition and where it came from.
“The good thing, though, is that people have come forward to bring those discovered ammunition to the military and to the police,” he said.
“This is a measure of confidence and trust in the current operations of the police and the military that’s ongoing.”
When asked whether the discovery of guns and ammunition across the country could amount to a state of emergency, Mr Tikoduadua said that was a “theoretical question”.
“We’ve had two or three situations where they have been found and they’ve been reported to the police.
“It’s no indication of anything. It’s just that people have possession, ammunition that they should not have.”
Mr Tikoduadua urged members of the public who may be in possession of ammunition to hand it over to authorities.
“It should not be in the possession of anyone other than the authorised central government agencies, they should return it.”
Maj-Gen Kalouniwai in an earlier statement said the unauthorised possession of arms and ammunition posed a serious threat to national security and public safety.
He said all information received would be treated with confidentiality and handled through the relevant security and law enforcement processes.
