TWENTY Fijian Police officers left the country this morning to undergo training at the Yunnan Police College in China focusing on key phases of policing the illicit drug trade.
According to a media statement from Police, the Yunnan Police College has specifically designed a training program for Fijian officers under the police to police cooperation with the Fiji Police Force and the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
The training will run from the September 13 to September 27.
Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho while addressing the contingent at the Fiji Police headquarters yesterday stressed the importance of the training towards 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 maximise 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 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 is 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.
Earlier in May, Brig Gen Qiliho had led a delegation to visit the Yunnan Public Security Department, where discussions 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 to send officers for the two week training on drug control for Fiji.
