FIJI is facing a growing methamphetamine problem, with the drug increasingly affecting young people and communities, says Fiji Police Narcotics Division Inspector Usaia Donu.
Mr Donu raised the concern during the 43rd Fiji Head Teachers Association’s annual conference in Nadi yesterday, where he called on teachers and educators to play a greater role in tackling substance misuse.
He said drug use had become an increasing concern among young people, highlighting marijuana use and the number of teenagers who had received treatment for drug-related mental health conditions.
Mr Donu also referred to a major methamphetamine seizure in Legalega, Nadi, in early 2024, involving more than 4.2 tonnes of the drug.
He said more than 2400 drug-related cases had been recorded between 2024 and 2025, while marijuana cultivation and trafficking remained widespread in rural and maritime communities.
Mr Donu also raised concerns about drug use and HIV transmission, particularly through the sharing of needles.
He described methamphetamine, commonly known as ice or crystal meth, as an emerging threat and said the scale of the problem required urgent intervention.
“Fiji is no longer a transit hub, we are a domestic market now,” he said.
He urged schools, communities and law enforcement agencies to work together to protect young people and address the growing impact of drug abuse.
