Hard drug use up in Marshall Islands

Majuro: As hard drug use escalates in the Marshall Islands, government leaders are expressing increasing concern over the problem, with Justice Minister Kessai Note announcing the formation of a drug task force in Parliament last week.

In what may be a first for the Marshall Islands, Police with a courtapproved warrant searched a vessel and passengers who arrived in Majuro last Friday from an outer island. The search came up empty, but law enforcement authorities said they would continue efforts to identify and intervene in drug selling in the capital.