Police investigations have not established a connection between the increasing number of missing person cases and recent body discoveries, which have raised public concerns about possible criminal or drug-related activity. Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu addressed these worries during a press conference today, after reports surfaced about several young individuals discovered deceased in a partially decomposed state in recent weeks.
Tudravu indicated that post-mortem examinations conducted thus far have not found any drugs in the victims’ systems and have not pointed to any involvement with criminal activities. “There’s no link at this point in time. Should there be a link based on the post-mortem and the report that is given, then we will confirm that,” he stated.
Despite the reassurances, Tudravu acknowledged that the police face challenges in investigating missing person cases, primarily due to delays in reporting or failure to report such disappearances altogether. “Not all missing persons are reported to us initially. This is a challenge we are facing within the Fiji Police Force, especially as we do not have dedicated teams to deal with missing persons all the time,” he explained.
He emphasized the importance of timely reporting and called on families and relatives to notify the police promptly when someone goes missing. In a similar vein, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe urged families, communities, and traditional leadership structures to play a larger role in monitoring the safety and whereabouts of young people.
The Fiji Police Force has assured the public of their commitment to transparency and pledged to provide updates should investigations uncover any confirmed links or causes of death. This proactive approach aims to foster a safer environment for all.