Approximately 1.1 ton of white substances in crystal and powder was seized in Maqalevu, Nadi on 20 January 2024 Photo: Fiji Police Force
An anti-drug campaigner in Fiji says the use of illicit drugs among children as young as 10 years old has become a serious concern for the country.
Drug-Free World Fiji founder Kalesi Volatabu told public broadcaster FBC that the consumption of hard drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin had "grown out of proportion".
"It's not just one drug they're doing. Marijuana, really huge numbers of crystal meth. Heroin, inhalants, sniffing of glue," she was quoted as saying.
Kalesi Volatabu Photo: Facebook / Drug Free World - Fiji
She told FBC it was "distressing" to see children being exposed to the drugs and is calling for an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat the issue.
Fiji has established a reputation as a hub of illicit drug trafficking as authorities try to grapple with transnational crimes.
In January, the Fiji Police seized almost five tonnes of methamphetamine with a street value of FJ$2 billion ((NZ$1.68b).
Police said Fiji was being used as a transit point and that the methamphetamine was destined for a foreign market.
The public prosecutions office has sanctioned charges against 14 people in relation to the bust.
At the time, Volatabu had told RNZ Pacific Waves that the country was "in chaos" called for "an overhaul of our social system".
"We don't have a drug and alcohol rehab in the country. So that's first and foremost. The demand was initially the international market, whether it be New Zealand, Australia or any other country, but now we have a demand here locally," she said.
Fiji's Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, said in April that the country is at risk of becoming "a nation of zombies" if they fail to deal with the issue.
On Monday, police said a joint operation with the Revenue and Customs Service resulted in the seizure of consignments from British Columbia, Canada containing apparatuses that could be used for a possible clandestine lab.
Acting police chief Juki Fong Chew said task forces from the Western and Eastern Divisions together with K9 capabilities intercepted the consignment at a warehouse in Nadi on 12 July.
He said six people have been taken in for questioning.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad launched the National Counter Narcotics Strategy 2023-2028, saying it was "a significant step…to address the drug problem."
"Fiji serves as a transit point for drug trafficking organizations that transport drugs from the Asian region to Australia and New Zealand, which are key international markets for illicit drugs," he said.
"The illicit drug trade in Fiji has also been fuelled by our own growing drug addiction problem, which has led to an increase in drug-related crime and violence."
