Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho stressed that all necessary procedures and processes are followed by his team of Police officers who are accompanied by a Government analyst during the drug raids in Navosa.
Qiliho said they are well aware of the need to protect the integrity of the operations and investigations.
His comments follow concerns raised by SODELPA on why the Police and RFMF are destroying the marijuana plants confiscated in the Navosa highlands.
Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavo said that while he commends the work carried out by the Police along with the RFMF in regards to Operation Cavuraka, he notes with concern the method that they have adopted to undertake the operation.
Bulitavo said that the confiscated drugs cannot be destroyed before it’s presented to Court as evidence and legally, queries would arise such as the Right of Disclosure for the accused given the massive burning of evidence.
The SODELPA MP then raised the question on what is the objective of the Operation.
He asked whether it is to destroy farms, threat farmers, prevent cultivation or make arrests.
Bulitavo said one of the Police Force’s primary role is to investigate, caution accused persons, carry out reconstruction and collection of evidence for criminal proceedings.
Qiliho said that the statement by Mosese Bulitavo in regards to Operation Cavuraka shows his lack of understanding about operational issues.
The Police Commissioner said the decision to work with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was made due to their expertise in the field of self‑sustainment capabilities in identifying the marijuana farms.
He said as highlighted, farmers are moving into more extremely hard to reach places, one of which was found after a nine hour trek into the rugged terrains of the Navosa Hills.
Qiliho said the possibility of farmers violently retaliating against his Police officers is also very real.
The Commissioner said Bulitavo must take note of the fact that Police officers are not armed like other Police jurisdictions when they conduct similar raids.
This is one of the main reasons as to why they had enlisted the assistance of the RFMF personnel.
Qiliho said at the end of the day he would like to ask members of the public to keep in mind the mission of Operation Cavuraka and that is to rid society of this drug which has over the years had a wide range of negative impacts.
More than 30,000 marijuana plants have been destroyed in Navosa under Operation Cavuraka.
At the same time a team is currently working to identify the farmers as well as track down the proceeds of crime and those who have or are benefitting from the drug trade.
