Suva, June 15 (UNI) Illicit drug trafficking has become a major challenge for Fiji’s national security, Fiji’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci said on Thursday.
He made the remarks during a workshop on establishing a national drug rehabilitation center, saying that illicit drug trafficking is driven by a combination of factors, including the country’s strategic location in the Pacific, poverty, and corruption.
He said Fiji serves as a transit point for drug trafficking organizations that transport drugs from the Asian region to Australia and New Zealand, and the challenges have been exacerbated by the growing illicit drug business in the country.
“The drug trade in Fiji has serious consequences for our country and it undermines our national security and contributes to the erosion of our social fabric, which also has a devastating impact on individuals and families who are affected by drug addiction and drug-related crime,” the officer said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has developed the National Counter Illicit Narcotics Strategy 2023-2028, which will be tabled in the Cabinet around July for endorsement, said Raikaci.
The purpose of the five-year strategy is to protect the health, safety and security of people who live in Fiji, to promote development, and to prevent and reduce the social, economic and environmental drug-related harm in the country.
He said the center would provide a range of services, including medical detoxification, counseling, therapy, and support groups.
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