BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Matthew Wale, Leader of Opposition has raised concerns over gaps in the country’s laws enforcement authorities.
He made the statement to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RISPF) including the Drug enforcement Unit, China Police Liaison Team when they appeared before the Bills and Legislation (BLC) hearing into Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2025.
During questioning of the RSIPF, Wale referred to a case last year in which a suspect was arrested but could not be charged due to a legislative gap in the law.
“Last year a person was arrested but couldn’t be charged. What were the circumstances of the case?” Wale asked.
In response, the RSIPF confirmed that the suspect could not be prosecuted after advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), due to a gap in the Dangerous Drugs Act at the time.
“The issue was we have a legislation gap. After we received the DPP’s advice, the person could not be charged because of the gap in the Dangerous Drugs Act,” the RSIPF said.
The RSIPF said that the arrest occurred before November 5, when amendments to the Act came into force.
However, Wale pressed further, questioning whether the current rules are flexible enough to address evolving synthetic drugs.
“What happens if it’s slightly altered? So, it’s not strictly meth, and they call it something new?” Wale asked.
The RSIPF acknowledged that if a new drug substance is not specifically covered under the rules, it would create another gap and require new regulations to be introduced.
“At the moment there is only meth now. We have cocaine and others already covered inside the law,” the RSIPF said.
Wale warned that international drug organisations often adjust precursor chemicals in laboratories to create slightly modified substances that fall outside existing legal definitions.
“These gaps have labs in Colombia and elsewhere adjusting precursor compositions and calling it something else. If it happens again, you will have to release that person again,” he said.
He also questioned whether the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) had been sufficiently consulted during the drafting of the amendments.
The RSIPF in response said that consultations were conducted jointly with the Ministries of Health, Customs and Police.
Wale expressed disappointment, saying police, as the country’s primary law enforcement agency, should have played a stronger role in ensuring the legislation anticipates emerging drug trends.
“We’re dealing with a very serious situation. Police is the absolute number one law enforcement agency when it comes to drugs and illicit materials,” Wale said.
“The good thing is you can go and add more rules, but make them flexible enough that they rope in any future changes to the chemical elements of these drugs. Except we have this problem on our hands now and we need to respond now,” Wale said.
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