BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is already present in the country, according to Solomon Bosa, Acting Director of the National Pharmacy Services Division.
Mr Bosa made the statement last Friday when the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) appeared before the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) during its inquiry into the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The proposed Bill seeks to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act (Cap. 98), specifically revising Section 39 to increase penalties for offences where no specific punishment is currently prescribed. Under Clause 4 of the amendment, offenders could face fines of up to 15 million penalty units, life imprisonment, or both.
Mr Bosa told the committee that many pharmacies in the country stock products containing pseudoephedrine, a substance that can be chemically processed under certain conditions to produce methamphetamine.
“From a pharmaceutical perspective, the products needed to manufacture meth are already available in the country,” he said, adding that this means the drug could potentially be produced locally rather than being entirely imported.
He stressed the need for stronger legal safeguards and improved monitoring systems to prevent misuse.
While authorities conduct oversight of private pharmacies and medicine imports, Mr Bosa acknowledges that there are gaps in onsite drug testing and delays in obtaining test results, which can hinder prosecution efforts.
BLC Chairman John Maneniaru said authorities must act urgently.
“We can’t wait. It is an urgent matter,” he said, warning that locally manufactured methamphetamine could spread rapidly if not addressed through strengthened policies and enforcement measures.
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