20 Officers Train In China On Anti-Narcotics
Twenty Police officers will undergo training at the Yunnan Police College in China focusing on key phases of policing the illicit drug trade. Under the Police to Police Co-operation between the Fiji Police Force and the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security, the Yunnan Police College has specifically designed a training programme for Fijian officers. It will run from today to September 27.
The training will cover areas of drug intelligence, observing on-site public drug checks by the drug control division as well as the difficulties of drug control. The contingent led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Aminisitai Seru consists of officers from the Criminal Investigations Department, Intelligence, Forensics and prosecutions from the four policing divisions. Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, earlier in May, led a delegation to visit the Yunnan Public Security Department where discus- sions were held about possible training opportunities with the Yunnan Police College on anti narcotics policing.
Three months following the meeting an invitation was extended to the Fiji Police Force to send officers for the two-week training on drug control for Fiji. While addressing the contingent at the Fiji Police headquarters yesterday Brigadier-General Qiliho stressed the importance of the training to Fiji’s war on drugs.
“You are fortunate to be undergoing training with the Yunnan officials because they are one of the leading provinces in China that excel in drug enforcement operations and we need to maximize this opportunity to learn from the best,” he said.
“Discipline is key and if we get this right, opportunities will open up for others and keep in mind that you are ambassadors of Fiji and not only of the Fiji Police Force”.
The contingent flew out to China yesterday.