The four police officers who were suspended for allegations connected to drug use have returned to work but have been removed from the Criminal Investigation Division. 

Police Commissioner, AUapaau Logoitino Filipo said the officers were reinstated after three weeks of suspension and after their investigation. 

He said the officers were investigated for their affiliation with people who were under the radar of police and suspected of being connected with drugs. 

“The officers pleaded guilty to that affiliation and administrative charge of bringing disrepute to the police profession,” said Auapaau. 

“They should have known better and as a result, they have returned to work but have been placed in other police divisions. 

“They were suspended with pay for those three weeks.” 

According to the Police Commissioner, the officers were investigated because they were seen being with people under police watch but were not found to have been taking drugs. 

Furthermore, he said the law enforcement officials are also looking into a policy for random drug tests on their officers. 

Currently, the Ministry of Police is in consultation with doctors on ways to have this in place and will also avoid allegations of officers being affiliated with drugs. 

Random and compulsory drug tests are becoming common across the globe in police agencies. Fiji has a compulsory drug testing policy for all its staff.

There has been evidence and suspicion that a few police officers are involved with the drug trade either as informants or collaborators but so far nothing has been proven.