The Fiji Police Force yesterday began the week-long process to destroy over four tonnes of methamphetamine, an initiative they have named Operation White Wave. While details of the operation that led to the seizure of 4.15 tonnes of the highly dangerous, illicit drug have not been officially announced, Islands Business has been told that this is to avoid compromising the ongoing case. Legal counsels of the case’s respondents and members of local and regional media have been invited to witness the week-long operation in a bid for complete transparency for all stakeholders, including the Fijian Public. Several layers of security measures have been put in place to limit movement in and out of the Dignified Crematorium in Nakasi for the duration of Operation White Wave, to ensure the drug is not leaked back into the public circulation in a nation already struggling to cope with its sudden rise in the trade and consumption of illicit drugs. “I can assure the public at this moment that they do not have to worry about anything,” Senior Superintendent of Police Kasiano Vusonilawe told media personnel present on site on Monday, 24th February, the first day of Operation White Wave. “There is tight security to secure the drugs until it’s all been destroyed. We are well prepared on the ground and the ground is also secured in line with the recommended security measures. That we have done since a few months back; observing the movement of people, the ongoing activity within the Nakasi-Suva corridor. They do not have to worry about anything. “Before the call order was issued from the court, they demanded the relevant environmental tests to do this. So when the court received the incentive from the environmental tests, then they green lit for us to go ahead and carry out the court’s call order for the destruction, to be successful and safe,” SSP Vusonilawe added. The High Court Order had also approved the removal and safekeeping of 1kg of the methamphetamine for use in future police training programs. The process was conducted in the presence and full view of media personnel, several of whom were allowed to livestream the process to their social media pages. “Thorough consultations with stakeholders and clearance from relevant authorities have ensured the disposal process is in accordance with best practices, taking into consideration the health and environmental concerns associated with the destruction of the high volume of illicit drugs,” a press statement from the Fiji Police Force noted, claiming the method of destruction- vaporising in a furnace- is practiced by law enforcement globally. At the end of the destruction process, full details will reportedly be released to the public for transparency and accountability.