THE Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) is planning to build a dedicated drug rehabilitation prison at Naboro as it prepares for what Acting Commissioner Auta Moceisuva believes will be a sharp rise in drug-related inmates over the next decade.
In an interview with The Fiji Times online portal The Lens@177, Mr Moceisuva said the proposed facility was one of two major infrastructure projects being pursued by the Corrections Service.
“There are two projects that we have in the pipeline now,” Mr Moceisuva said.
“One is the new drug rehabilitation facility for drug offenders, and the other is to close down Korovou and move the whole facility to Naboro, which can cater for a larger population.”
He said groundwork on the rehabilitation centre had already begun, with discussions underway with local agencies and international partners.
“For the first one which is a rehabilitation centre to cater for drug offenders, we have started groundwork last year.
“We are talking with the Public Works Department. UNODC is also aware. I have just come back from Vienna three weeks ago.
“As a result of that meeting, a team from Vienna will be coming to look into one of which is the infrastructure development at the Corrections Service, also the digitisation and the training of our officers.
“So it has not materialised, but we are talking. We are having a preliminary talk with these agencies and partners to see how we can best address what we have.”
He said the proposal was driven by changing crime trends, with drug offences expected to become the dominant category of prisoners in the coming years.
“If you look at the statistics of the prisoners, the four major ones for the last 10 years have been, number one, sexual offences, offence against morality.
“Second is offence against property, third is against persons and the fourth one is drugs.
“And we did an assessment last year. We found that by June there were 250 prisoners inside. If we stretch that to December, then it’s going to be double, so 500.
“So, this year we expect to have around 1000 prisoners arrested for drug offences. That’s why we foresee that drugs is a problem.
“We cannot go far, but to look at the news that’s coming in, the majority of those that are being arrested now come in for drug offences.
“There’s a whole host of prisoners who are there in the remand charged with drug offences. And they are going to the statistics to add to what we already have.”
Mr Moceisuva said in the next five to 10 years, drugs would take past some of the traditional offences that they have in custody.
“So looking at that, we believe that this is the time to put in a facility in Naboro to prepare for what is coming.
“And also we are aware that the Government is in the process of legislating a Narcotics Bureau or Narcotics Act.
“The Ministry of Policing is being set up and people are now working from behind the scenes. And we foresee that there will be an influx in the number of prisoners that will be arrested.
“We are also aware that with the fight against drugs that is happening now, this is also one area that can increase the number of drug offenders. So it’s necessary to have the facility.”
Mr Moceisuva said the proposed centre would focus on rehabilitation for drug users, who required different treatment from other offenders.
