THE Tobacco Control Unit has arrested six students and five public service vehicle drivers last week for smoking at the Suva Bus Stand.
Enforcement officer Asivorosi Tuiqali said the 11 offenders were charged to pay $50 each within 21 days from the day they were booked. Failing that they could face the maximum penalty of $500 fine.
"The offenders were caught smoking at the Suva Bus Stand last week.
"Six of them are secondary school students and I booked three bus drivers, a mini bus driver and a taxi driver," Mr Tuiqali said.
"Most of the people know that it is unlawful to smoke in a public place, but they just don't care to follow the law," he said.
Mr Tuiqali said they would continue to clamp down on smokers who do not follow the law.
He added that a lot of awareness and campaign should be done to highlight the bad effects of smoking and the law against smoking in public.
The Tobacco Control Unit in Suva has six enforcement officers.
Meanwhile, seven school students in uniform were booked for smoking in public non-smoking areas last month.
Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit officer-in-charge Iferemi Corerega said the students were from Nabua Secondary, Suva Grammar and Suva Sangam College.
He said the students were smoking in public transport in uniform. Mr Corerega said principals, teachers and parents should wake up and address the problem of substance abuse.
