Police, Customs trained to dismantle drug labs
The Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service officers now have the expertise to dismantle clandestine illicit drug labs.
This is after the completion of two weeks training conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA) on Friday. Three Fiji Revenue and Customs Service officials and 34 Fiji Police officers took part in the training. Closing the course, FRCS Manager Training Osea Dakai said it was the first time Fijians were taking part in such a course in Fiji. “If we can just look back in 2004 (9/6/2004) when the biggest methamphetamine lab was dismantled at Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu,” he said.
“At the time we did not have this expertise to dismantle these kinds of labs.
“I remember correctly because I was part of the team that dismantled the surveillance operations. I was the head of surveillance and at that time we did not have this ex- perience, but we are very grateful to the USDEA and the US government for giving us this opportunity. “The rise in cases of methamphetamine in Fiji is evident through the seizures by Police and Customs and proves the fact that there are syndicates operating in our midst. “FRCS and Police are adamant that after this training we will not only focus on the product, but we will be able to identify the root, eliminate, disturb the syndicates and the root cause.”
Mr Dakai thanked the USDEA for giving its time and effort and sending its experts in this field. “The 37 participants graduating today are qualified enough to carry out operations in disrupting clandestine lab operations and carrying out successful investigations and, most importantly, convictions in this area,” he said.
“I have also learned from our participants here that they are able to identify chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs.
“We have worked a little bit in this area in trying to identify the right chemicals that are coming into Fiji and the ones that they declare to us on the system that are coming. “Most importantly they need to work closely with fellow Police participants in building up their cases in a collaborative approach.”