Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jan 2015
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2015 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Author: Salaseini Moceiwai

SPECIAL TEAM IN OPERATION

THE past two weeks have been a very busy period for police officers in
the North as they netted thousands of dried leaves believed to be
marijuana following a series of raids through their Operation Sasamaki.

Even though they have pulled back from the operation as of last
Friday, divisional police commander Northern SSP Shiri Singh yesterday
said there was a special team still in operation.

"We have pulled back from the operation but our strategic team is
still on the move monitoring the situation on the ground," SSP Singh
said.

"The past weeks have been very busy for us and we are very
appreciative of the support we received from the communities. It was
through this collaborative effort that we successfully raided the
farms in Tukavesi.

"The chiefs, crime-prevention committees and the villagers have been
very supportive and we are so thankful to them."

SSP Singh said their analysts were testing the leaves.

"The analysts are conducting tests on these plants and we hope to get
the results soon."

Meanwhile, Minister for Immigration, National Security and Defence
Col. Timoci Natuva visited the Tukavesi Police Station where he
encouraged the police officers to continue with their good work.

Col. Natuva earlier said marijuana had become a source of income for
many in the Cakaudrove Province.

He said this had led to the high cultivation of marijuana in the
province as a means to sustain the livelihoods of villagers.

Col. Natuva assured villagers in Tunuloa, Cakaudrove, Natewa and Buca
that an ice plant project was planned for the area to help villagers
divert from the cultivation of marijuana to fishing.

It was earlier reported 3969 plants were successfully uprooted through
the operation in the North.
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MAP posted-by: Matt