A 23-year-old farmer from Vusavio, Dogotuki, was arrested on Friday 10 February 2023 after police raided his farm.[1] The farm was at Qaranivai in Dogotuki, a district on Fiji’s northern island of Vanua Levu.[2] Officers from the Labasa Taskforce and the Criminal Intelligence Unit carried out the raid, Chief Operations Officer Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Livai Driu said.[1] Police said more than 4,590 plants believed to be marijuana were discovered and seized on the farm.[1]

Driu said more arrests were also made in the Northern Division that week for drug-related offences.[3] He said the divisional task forces would continue to focus on people involved in the illegal drug trade, and that successful joint raids with other stakeholders reflected the momentum of the efforts underway in addressing the illicit trade.[2] The plants were found on the suspect’s farm at Qaranivai in Dogotuki, and police said they were discovered and seized during the raid.[1]