DRUG analysis machines used by the Fiji Police Force are on par with those used internationally, however, when rat poison was mixed with methamphetamine (ice), the mixture was not catalogued into the machines.
This was the word from officer in-charge of drug intelligence, Assistant Superintendent of Police Anare Masitabua as he revealed that of the 1440 drug seizures last year, a total of 113 were meth
cases.
He said the total value of ice and other narcotics and psychotropic drugs seized last year was $40 million.
“In 2018 the total value of seizures was $68m for marijuana through operation Cavuraka within the Wainibuka, Lomaiviti, Kadavu, Ra and Navosa farms.”
He made the revelation during Leadership Fiji’s National Dialogue on Substance Abuse held at the University of the South Pacific yesterday.
“Some of the hard drugs we are seizing now is green, once we see it we know its mixed with rat poison — the only green substance sold in the shops is rat poison,” he said.
“Our machines are the latest, we are on par with China and Singapore.
“However, the machines that we have — analysis of rat poison is not catalogued in the machines.”
ASP Masitabua also revealed that ice in Fiji was being mixed with butane, a substance found in sprays or aerosols.
