Ship Owners Assist Police On Drug Raids
Local ship owners have applauded the Fiji Police Force for doing random drug check-ups at all ports.
This follows the increase in drug busts at the Suva wharf recently. According to Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho the Fiji Police Force will continue to do random checks.
Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho confirmed that marijuana has been transported by inter-island shipping vessels which the Fiji Police Force has intercepted deliveries with the help of the public.
The latest intercept was conducted last Saturday which saw the seizure of dried leaves believed to be marijuana wrapped in clear plastic found inside a carton used for rubbish at Narain Jetty, Walu Bay in Suva.
“We will be conducting random checks and raids with the aid of K9 capabilities and in partnership with the Fiji Detector Dog Unit, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and Fiji Ports Authority,” Brigadier General Qiliho said.
“We are also working with ship operators with this regard,” he said. Brigadier General Qiliho thanked the public for coming forward with information regarding the illegal activities.
“While we cannot go into detail regarding the measures we will be adopting we can say that we have been receiving information from members of the public regarding these illegal activities and this has greatly aided our ongoing efforts,” he said. “Similar measures are being adopted at other ports of entry.”
Goundar Shipping Limited managing director George Goundar said his vessels were always open if the Police wanted to carry out random checks on his vessels.
“This is because I do not want my vessels to be used as a mean of transporting marijuana,” Mr Goundar said.
“We can’t check our customers’ bags when they board our vessels but what we can do is work with the Police when they do random checks,” he said. Victoria Marine Limited. Company director Joe Tagi said they would always work with the Police when it comes to combating the transportation of marijuana.
“As far as I know, there have been no reports of our vessels being used as a means of transporting marijuana,” Mr Tagi said.
“However, if we find out that our vessels are being used we will inform the Police.”