Drug dealing and fraud against the Government ranked very high

Drug dealing and fraud against the Government have been ranked very high in Fiji according to the National Risk Assessment Outcomes and Findings conducted by the National Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Speaking at a briefing on the report, Financial Intelligence Unit Director Razim Buksh says a national risk assessment was conducted as part of Fiji’s anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism program.

Buksh says these findings and outcomes will assist its members like commercial banks and other financial institutions to better understand money laundering and financing of terrorism risks.

He adds the findings will also help the members prioritise resources to mitigate these risks more effectively.

Presenting on the high ranking of importation, trans-shipment, cultivation and manufacture of drugs, CID Major Crimes Manager, Eparama Waqa says selling of drugs has become the main source of living for most people.

Waqa says the total value of drugs seized has increased to about $7.2 million in 2014 compared to $5 million in 2013.

He says this is due to some changes they have made in the Drugs Unit.

Meanwhile Team Leader of the Fraud and Evasion Unit at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, Arieta Raitamata says they are currently investigating 43 cases of VAT evasion which amounts to more than $1 million.

Raitamata says one of the major challenges they face is the collusion between some tax officers and taxpayers.

She says FRCA has zero tolerance on this.