The Fiji Police Force has seized more than 20,000 marijuana plants and made 42 arrests in the Northern Division between 17 January and 12 February this year.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu said Northern Division drug operations continue to net illicit drugs namely marijuana, largely due to the increased sharing of information.
He said the special operations are aimed at identifying new farms and revisiting known areas of cultivation.
ACP Driu said the drug operations is running parallel with another operation focused on addressing prevalent offences namely theft, assault, actual bodily harm and burglary.
He said this past week more green plants, seeds and dried leaves all believed to be marijuana were seized, with five arrests made in the Savusavu area of operation.
The head of the Fiji Police Operations said a notable change has been the sharing of information, with the success of recent raids attributed to community support.
ACP Driu said the only people benefiting from the illicit drug trade are the cultivators and distributors, and while a few get rich, the rest of society are left to suffer the health and social implications.
