RESIDENTS of a neighbourhood in Lautoka have made submissions to the Fiji Police Force requesting that officers continue manning a checkpoint linked to suspected illegal drug activity.
Rogovoka Street has been declared a “red zone”, with residents claiming vehicle and pedestrian traffic has reduced significantly since Police established the checkpoint in the area.
Residents say the increased Police visibility has brought a sense of safety and calm to the neighbourhood, which they allege had become a hotspot for suspicious activity.
Community members are now urging authorities to maintain the operation, saying the checkpoint has helped deter the movement of suspected drug dealers and users through the area.
A longtime resident who wishes to remain anonymous said what was once a clean and safe street has become isolated.
“Rogovoka, Culcutta, Bebe and Sukanivalu corridor is unsafe, hotbed for illicit drug trade,” he said.
Another resident said before Police checkpoint, residents felt threatened to walk the streets for fear of being attacked.
“A good and clean neighborhood turned into a dangerous place,” said the resident.
He said the targeted house has been a hive of activity, a quick and a pickup spot for people who use hard drugs.
A former resident who was on holidays coined the area as unsafe to walk the streets, adding a great many people live in fear.
“What surprises me is that businesses seem to be normal at the suspected house, and with over a month of Police setup, searches and yet no arrests have been made.”
Police have yet to comment on whether the checkpoint operation will continue permanently.
