Tuvalu Police toughening up on drug users
By Silafaga Lalua
Over the Christmas weekend three young men were held in custody after police suspected they were under the influence of dangerous drugs, and were arrested on Monday December 25th at the main Funafuti wharf, with a substantial amount of the drug, suspected to be marijuana.
Police and customs merged their services during the recent M.V Manufolau trip, to search all passengers and their luggage for signs of any drugs. This search did not find anything.
Police were however tipped off by the general public of young men who possessed and used the drug and started their investigations which led to the arrest of the young men over the weekend.
Acting Police Commissioner Motulu Pedro told Tuvalu news that the police force and customs alike rely largely on the public to tell them of marijuana suspects in the country.
He said that Tuvalu police do not have mechanisms in the form of machines to monitor the entry of such dangerous drugs into the country.
He said that most of the police force however has been trained to identify the drug marijuana by smelling it, and also by looking at it through a microscope. Nearby police friends in Australia, New Zealand as well as the Forum Secretariat, have been contacted to find out if the confiscated drug is really marijuana.
Pedro plans to propose to the government of Tuvalu if it could approve Tuvalu Police and Fiji police to work together to search every Tuvalu vessel, of any dangerous drugs before it leaves Fiji waters. If government approves of this then negotiations will start for an agreement to be made between Tuvalu and Fiji Police to carry out the above.
As for now, the three young men have been released until confirmation is received that the drugs they had been carrying is marijuana. Upon confirmation Pedro said the three will then appear in court.
Drugs is an issue raised in the recent Parliament session so as Pedro said, it is paramount to protect our youngsters from effects of this and other drugs and appeals to all Tuvalu residents for information on this case or any other drug related case.
ENDS
