Defence Minister Inia Seruiratu says subject to Cabinet endorsement and funding, Government hopes to have a Narcotics Drugs Bill by 2027.
He said this in Parliament on Monday in response to a query from Opposition member Ratu Tevita Navurelevu on whether the Fiji Police Force’s Drug Squad was still in existence. He said the Drug Squad was still operational.
“We have seen some models, we are looking at the Singaporean model where, hopefully by 2027 we will (again subject to Cabinet endorsement and of course funding as well) have an independent Narcotics Drugs Bill,” he said.
“That is the plan, but of course, yes, we still maintain the Drug Squad within the Fiji Police Force for now.
“Moving towards that direction as well, we have to have all the enablers and the key capabilities in place.
“One, is the laboratory that the Fiji Police Force now has in Nasese where previously all the drugs used to be tested in Koronivia.
“Now the police are doing their own testing so this is something that together with Forensic Unit we will look into.”
