Drug trafficking is increasingly threatening the safety of coastal communities in Fiji, as drug cartel-controlled vessels exploit maritime islands for illicit activities. Lavenia Naivalu, a spokeswoman for the Nacula district, highlighted the pressing need for enhanced border control and drug awareness initiatives within these vulnerable communities.
Naivalu has raised alarms over the alarming trend of drug cartels using Fijian waters, underscoring the urgency for local leaders to actively support border control agencies. She noted that local communities are inadvertently exposed to criminal enterprises that traverse their daily lives, particularly with recent drug busts in the region linked to routes passing through their waters.
“I’m deeply concerned about the way things are happening with the drug trade in Fiji,” stated Naivalu. She pointed to significant drug raids that traced their origins through Yasawa, which is in close proximity to local fishing and living areas.
To combat this issue, Naivalu emphasized the importance of empowering maritime communities with the knowledge to recognize suspicious activities and vessels. She urged local police to engage with villages to provide essential training on identifying warning signs associated with drug trafficking, including how to report any suspicious findings.
“We are asking our police to come to the villages and educate us on what to look for,” she explained. “If we see a yacht, what signs indicate it could be carrying drugs? And if we do find something, who do we call?”
Naivalu informed that community leaders would convene next week to further address these pressing concerns, focusing on the monitoring of local activities and enhancing vigilance against potential threats.
The upcoming meeting aims to reinforce community awareness, with the hope of inviting police to conduct training workshops aimed at fortifying the region’s defenses against drug trafficking. By fostering a strong collaborative approach between authorities and local communities, there is optimism that Fiji can better safeguard its waters and preserve the safety and integrity of its coastal villages.