Chief Not Happy With Drug Find
Roko Cinavilakeba calls for a united stand against the war on drugs.
The chief of Totoya in Lau, the Turaga Na Roko Sau, Josefa Cinavilakeba, is not happy about the discovery of marijuana in one of the villages on the island.
He said the cultivation of marijuana on the island was prohibited.
When he heard news of the drug find, he called the elders of Ketei and Tubou villages to organise their respective village meetings and discuss the matter. Roko Cinavilakeba reminded the elders of the two villages about upholding respect at all times. He said they should stand united in destroying all suspected drug farms and make the island drug free.
Anyone found involved in the alleged cultivation of the drug would be reported to the Police, he said. “There is no place in Totoya for people involved in marijuana farming,” he said.
“Smoking marijuana in the district of Totoya is not allowed and someone caught here will also be reported to the Police.”
He said youths in all five villages – Tovu, Ketei, Dravuwalu, Udu and Vanuavatu – had been told that the cultivation of marijuana on the island was illegal.
Roko Cinavilakeba thanked Ketei Village headman (Turaga ni koro)
Yanuyanu Uludole for reporting the matter to the Police in Naroi, Moala. Roko Cinavilakeba has called on Police in Naroi to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and take the people involved to task.
Mr Uludole found the plants last Friday and uprooted them.
“The farm is on the village borders of Ketei and Tovu, Mr Uludole said.
He also confirmed from Ketei Village yesterday that the farm did not belong to anyone in the village. Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro yesterday said the uprooted marijuana plants were sent to Suva for testing and investigations had started.
“We are now trying to identify the owner of the farm and spray that was found at the farm,” she said. “We suspect that the spray found is linked to the owner of the farm.”