The Fiji Police Force has ruled out the existence of a large commercial-grade drug manufacturing laboratory in Fiji.

Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu, confirmed this in a press conference this morning.

He says the police have made this conclusion through extensive intelligence gathering and information sharing with our local, regional and international partners.

“I reiterate, there is currently no intelligence to show that there are commercial clandestine laboratories in Fiji to produce methamphetamine.”

Tudravu said Fiji is almost certainly only being used as a trans-shipment point for illicit drug trafficking to other lucrative drug markets.

Police are working with the Pacific Transnational Crime Network, which houses a large network of Pacific law enforcement, sharing intelligence, in partnership with the Australian Federal Police to stop transnational organized crime from infiltrating our shores.

Tudravu adds small-scale seizures of methamphetamine made throughout the five divisions are from low-level un-professional cooking of experimental drugs on a very small scale, that are often a mixture of poisonous chemicals, extremely harmful to one’s health.

“Drugs can be brought to Fiji in many ways – hidden in vessels, in cargo, or carried in on persons, and I am renewing calls for a holistic approach in tackling the drug trade, as we all need to be vigilant in stopping transnational crime syndicates taking a hold in Fiji.”

The Police Commissioner reiterated that major crimes are linked to drugs, and the Fiji Police Force is determined to break the vicious cycle – one arrest and seizure at a time.

He called for everyone’s support, and he will be reaching out to community leaders, faith-based organizations, non-government organizations and stakeholders to help the Police find real-time solutions.

“This is our home, so we need to put our hands together and protect our home.”