Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has reached out to the Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police for support in investigating recent drug-related allegations involving senior officers within the Fiji police force. This announcement was made during the 27th Attorney-General’s Conference at the Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa in Nadi.
Mr. Tudravu addressed concerns regarding the allegations and viral social media screenshots of Viber conversations, asserting his commitment to remove any officers implicated in the drug trade. “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 the information driving these recent allegations originates from overseas, adding, “We want to go further and see who is behind the keyboard giving this information.” The investigation is currently active, under the direction of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Police Headquarters. Mr. Tudravu confirmed that they have already identified the source of the messages in question.
Moreover, he indicated that the officers named in the Viber messages have had their mobile phones confiscated for analysis. Mr. Tudravu expressed concern about the impact of false information, saying, “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 reiterated the importance of addressing potential corruption within the police force, stating that the continued efforts against drug trafficking must involve maintaining integrity among officers. Mr. Tudravu’s commitment to a thorough investigation signals a proactive approach towards ensuring accountability and transparency within the Fiji police, aiming to maintain public trust and uphold law enforcement standards.