https://fijisun.com.fj/news/nation/fiji-police-trace-drug-dollars-to-dismantle-crime-rings

The Fiji Police Force is now following the money trail behind the country’s drug trade to dismantle criminal networks operating in Fiji and the region.

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu confirmed yesterday that anti-money laundering and proceeds of crime units are tracking financial benefits gained from the illicit drug trade.

“We are treading slowly; very strategic investigation is done,” he said.

“If people are saying we are not quick in getting the big fish, it’s not easy getting there, but I can confirm that our men are working on it, with close consultation with our counterparts.

“There are a lot of things that need to be verified — money trail, assets, analysis of the cases. Our aim is to disrupt. Get them identified and we tackle and destroy the transnational crime network from regional using Fiji as partner in crime.”

The initiative, supported by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), aims to cut off the financial gains that fuel the illegal drug trade.

Mr Tudravu said police had expanded their investigation.

“We had vowed to cut the supply chain from the source and as part of the process, we are now following the money trail,” he said.

He said investigators were now examining assets and transactions linked to recent drug arrests.

“The teams from the anti-money laundering, the proceeds of crime are now following up on the arrests that have been made.”

He confirmed that officers were in Kadavu this week pursuing assets and money trails connected to drug operations.

The financial probe forms part of Operation Sasamaki, launched earlier this year to target methamphetamine and marijuana trafficking.

“When we launched Operation Sasamaki earlier this year, targeting both white and green drugs, we vowed to disrupt, destroy, dismantle and destabilise the illicit drug trade,” Mr Tudravu said.

He said several arrests and drug seizures have been made since the operation began.

Mr Tudravu acknowledged that tracing financial benefits takes time and requires coordination with other institutions.

“A lot of assistance is coming from our counterparts from overseas because we need to involve technology, the extracting of messages on phones, and all other things that need to be done,” he said.

He said the review of the Police Act was critical to strengthening future investigations.

“... because now there are some limitations in terms of exercising what needs to be done, and the powers given to the Police officers.”

Mr Tudravu assured the public that investigators are working methodically to identify and destroy drug networks operating in Fiji.