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Author: Eoghan Olkeriil NgirudelsangPalau Koror – Drug use in Palau has become a major public concern, with residents expressing concerns about its effects, especially on children. The issue was highlighted during a recent state visit to Palau, where residents expressed concern that drug use is rampant and is even affecting primary school students.
In a recent Ministry of Justice (MOJ) radio show, Criminal Investigation Department Lieutenant Gabriel acknowledged the severity of the problem. “I admit that drugs are a big problem in Palau,” he said, noting that all illegal drugs enter the country through airports and ports. He pointed to a recent surge in reported thefts as evidence of a growing drug crisis.
The anti-drug brigade tasked with combating the problem is woefully understaffed, with just seven officers, including a customs officer, despite the brigade’s organizational chart showing that it needs at least 16 officers to function effectively.
While Justice Department Chairman Surangel Whipps Jr. thanked Congress for increasing the department’s budget at a recent news conference, many officers believe the drug problem is not simply due to a lack of resources. They believe the problem is also related to broader management challenges within the department, particularly the lack of a permanent director.
When asked about the use of the drug detection dog team, Chief Sengpao explained that the dogs are to help detect drugs at the border. He added that the Transnational Crime Unit, which oversees the human trafficking and drug enforcement units, is responsible for managing the dog teams. However, he said the chief of the Department of Justice directed him to focus only on drugs and leave human trafficking and dog team operations to the chief.
Director Leavitt, who leads the Justice Department abroad, has downplayed Palau’s drug problem and said at a Senate oversight hearing in 2023 that human trafficking is a more serious problem. The Justice Department’s drug enforcement approach has shifted, with the Drug Enforcement Administration (NEA) being folded into one of the seven divisions that Director Leavitt manages.
The Justice Department has replaced six acting directors since Levitt left for the United States in March, including one case where an acting director had to be appointed another while he was on an official trip off the island.
President Whipps is responsible for appointing the head of the Public Security Bureau, according to the law. However, there is still no certainty on the date of Levitt’s return, with the president saying only that Levitt will be back “soon.”
As multiple components of the Department of Justice face understaffing and public concern about the drug problem remains high, effective leadership and resources are urgently needed to respond to the escalating crisis.
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Author: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
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