16 Jan 2007

Suva bootleggers and drug peddlers rounded up by army and police

10:35 am on 16 January 2007

Fiji's military has begun a clean-up of bootleggers and drug peddlers operating in and around the capital.

The military spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni, says the clean-up is in response to complaints from the public about illegal activities in their neighbourhood.

The raids on Sunday night resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of liquor and the confiscation of illegal drugs and money obtained from their sale.

An earlier raid had seen the seizure of a truckload of illegal liquor.

Major Leweni says the military is working closely with the police and all the goods confiscated would be handed over to them.

The director of police uniform operations, Jahir Khan, says police would accompany soldiers during their raids.