The governments of Samoa and Australia have launched a 12-month campaign to fight drugs: The Say no to illegal Drugs campaign.
Australia’s High Commissioner in Samoa Will Robinson said at the launch ceremony that the fight against drugs cannot be won by a single village in Samoa or a single country in the Pacific.
“It requires all of us—government, community leaders, schools, families, and international partners—working hand in hand.”
Methamphetamine finds across the Pacific, including in Samoa, have increased and recent drug busts netted almost six kilograms of the narcotic, with a street value estimated to be close to $10 million.
Experts say that Samoa, like Tonga and Fiji, are no longer a transit point but now a destination for drugs.
The involvement of drug cartels has also been highlighted.
Robinson pointed out that drug-related HIV infections were increasing in various Pacific islands.
He said such health issues were a tragedy for individuals and placed an expensive new strain on Pacific health systems.
Samoa Police have been working with the Australian Federal Police and Defence Australia to identify and respond to drug trafficking in Samoa and throughout the Pacific.
Samoa’s Acting Police Minister, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo, said the initiative focuses on prevention and education, engaging communities, schools, and families in dialogue about drug risks.
“We want to encourage safer, healthier lifestyles through constructive community engagement,” she said.
The campaign includes workshops, school programs, and outreach events designed to educate citizens and reduce drug use.
Photos: Samoa Global News
