War on drugs

WHEN drug addiction has drastically increased the task doesn't seem easy to combat.

Over the past two decades marijuana plants have been uprooted and destroyed from parts of Fiji, yet the farming continues.

For 10 years drugs were being sold and used in Nausori Town openly.

Police officers were too reluctant to apprehend the offenders and instead accept bribes from drug users.

Drugs have crossed our shores and left our borders undetected. How qualified and efficient are our Custom Officers and police force to tackle the problem?

Now we have an overseas expert to help solve this grave issue.

Is it that easy to check each and every student’s school bag to end distribution of illicit drugs?

Our Assistant Minister for Women and Children has boldly taken the step to confront those glue sniffers and drug users in the CBDs. The minister's intention to reform those taking illicit drugs proved futile. Everyday school-aged children ask for money on the streets to buy illicit drugs. The authorities ignore them. Children, who take drugs, grow up into adults and many continue this habit. How will these adults stop or educate their children to keep away from drugs? Our prime minister has called on introduction of spot checks and random drug tests in schools.

Stringent measures will need to be introduced with enforcement at our borders — at sea and airports — with reliable custom officers and sniffers dogs. Reshuffling of police officers every two or three years will address the drug issue to a great extent. SARITA LAL

Malolo St, Lautoka