A body that was found in Cunningham last year had burn injuries that were similar to what one would get as a result of burns sustained in a methamphetamine laboratatory.

Officer in charge of Drug Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Anare Masitabua, said these were signs that manufacture of meth was happening locally.

During the Fiji Police Community Policing Symposium, Mr Masituabu said there were 11 types of narcotics in Fiji.

He said in 2019, more than $300 million worth of marijuana was captured by police and meth in a similar amount.

“The danger of meth is very real. We found a school student with meth and after questioning him we discovered that there were seven other students using the drug,” he said.

“There is a rapid increase in the usage and seizures of methamphetamine and synthetics, this shows that meth is locally manufactured.

“We have also intelligence reports that there were various clandestine laboratories in the Eastern and Western Division.”

Mr Masitabua said a lab was also discovered in Lami which was traced from an arrest in Nadi.

He said the way forward in combating the drug problem was the strengthening of the narcotics bureau in Fiji.

He said the idea that drugs such as meth were coming from abroad could be ruled out.

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