Police Sharpen Focus on Nausori

Police have confirmed intensifying their watch over Nausori Town after it was alleged that peddlers are using children to sell their drugs.

Acting chief operations officer Maretino Qiolevu, who also heads “Operation Cavuraka’’, an on-going anti-drug campaign, said yesterday that the Police “have put their foot down”.

Acting ACP Qiolevu said the Police would be “strict and vigilant with young children and anyone found in the business of dealing drugs".

His comments have come after Nausori businessman Zulfikar Ali raised his concerns with the Attorney-General AiyazKhaiyum at a Budget consultation over the weekend, stating that children were being allegedly used as drug peddlers.

Mr Ali said that drug peddling was increasing in Nausori and a number of business houses were targets for break-ins. Mr Ali alleged that there were men who also sold a type of glue for students to sniff, as well as cigarettes and cannabis to smoke.

He alleged that Police were able discover these items after three raids and some were already confiscated.

Some items stolen from business premises had also been recovered, he said.

Mr Ali alleged that they also watched with dismay as a number of young children were used as alleged drug peddlers. Mr Ali said he was worried because Police were allegedly not able to gather evidence on this. However, A/ACP Qiolevu said that officers in Nausori were working on the issues and their main concern were the parents who are supposed to be monitoring their children.

“Parents have to keep talking to their children, watch them, and monitor them, especially

Parents have to keep talking to their children, watch them, and monitor them, especially when some of these children pretend to go to school and are roaming in town. Police officers will not be everywhere, but yes we are trying to tackle this. If we do find any evidence, any of these things happening, we will take them to task, no doubt about that, we are keeping a close eye on this. Maretino Qiolevu Acting Chief Operations Officer

when some of these children pretend to go to school and are roaming in town,’’ A/ ACP Qiolevu.

“Police officers will not be everywhere, but yes we are trying to tackle this.” A/ACP Qiolevu said they have been informed of who these groups of people were and that they were monitoring them closely. “If we do find any evidence, any of these things happening, we will take them to task, no doubt about that, we are keeping a close eye on this.”

A/ACP Qiolevu confirmed no one has been arrested as yet.