Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has sought assistance from the Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police to investigate recent allegations of drug-related activities involving senior officers within the Fiji police force. This announcement was made during the 27th Attorney-General’s Conference held at the Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Nadi.
Addressing the troubling allegations and a series of viral social media posts depicting Viber conversations, Mr. Tudravu affirmed his determination to remove any officers implicated in drug trafficking. “The answer, as always, is an affirmative yes and we are doing that regarding the specific claims against senior officers,” he stated.
He emphasized that much of the information concerning these allegations has been sourced from abroad, expressing his intention to uncover those responsible for disseminating such information. The investigation, currently under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Police Headquarters, is already making progress, with Mr. Tudravu confirming that they have identified the origins of the contentious messages.
Furthermore, he revealed that the mobile phones of the officers mentioned in the Viber messages have been confiscated for further examination. Mr. Tudravu also highlighted the potential damage caused by false accusations, voicing concern over the trauma these unfounded claims could inflict on the officers involved. “I want to round up people that are making comments from overseas… remember, very detrimental if these things are false. You cannot get back what trauma our officers went through,” he remarked.
Reiterating the necessity of addressing potential corruption within the police force, Mr. Tudravu underscored that ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking must coincide with a commitment to uphold integrity among officers. His dedication to a thorough and transparent investigation aims to restore public trust while ensuring accountability within Fiji’s law enforcement agencies. This decisive action reflects a hopeful commitment to fortifying the integrity of police operations in Fiji.