I DON’T want drug cartels or small-time dealers to have the upper hand on us, says Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho.
He said drug cartels and those involved in the illicit drug trade had been described as brazen, shameless and bold, because they were willing to take any risk even if it meant hurting innocent people just so they could fill their pockets.
“The global spotlight is on the drug trade, with the recent billion-dollar seizures in the United States and closer to home in Australia,” Brig-Gen Qiliho said. The police chief said these recent seizures of hard drugs reflected its demand in the society.
“This is why law enforcement in Fiji needs to be alert to our seas being used as transit points as everything that crosses the illicit drug path, leaves a trail of devastation.
“The origins of these million-dollar seizures are also changing.
“While most of the seizures have been linked back to the South American cartels, the billion-dollar meth seizure in Australia, where the drugs were found hidden in speakers, were allegedly shipped from Bangkok — and the discovery of 384 kilos of cocaine hidden within an excavator is alleged to have originated from South Africa.”
He reiterated that the Pacific region was being used as a transit point because the demands from neighbouring countries were high.
So high, he said, that one of Fiji’s neighbours was conducting what was being described by scientists as “one large urine test”, where they tested waste water to help paint a picture of their society’s drug habits.
“The results have been alarming and officials are estimating that $500 million is being spent on drugs annually. ”
As the drug dealers and cartels get richer, society gets poorer — as productive people become unproductive, as they succumb to the consequences of drugs.
“This news was hard to swallow as a law enforcement officer. And I made a vow that during my time as the Commissioner of Police, I will do all I can to curb this illicit trade.”
He added that Fiji was facing the same drug problems such as Australia, New Zealand, the US and China, but the only difference was the scale of the drugs involved. “And if we don’t commit ourselves to this fight, then our children and grandchildren will face a grim future — and that is a guilt you and I will carry to our graves.”
While speaking to officers earlier this week, he said Fiji was no longer immune to the drug threat.
