RSIPF response to Alfred Sasako article entitled ‘Police Commissioner, Why?’ and police confirmed removing cocaine from the exhibit room
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) again wanted to correct the articles issued on Monday, 09 June 2025, by Alfred Sasako, which continued to confuse the public in regard to this matter.
The police commissioner’s response over the weekend over this matter is straightforward and very clear.
As explained, the 500kg of cocaine intercepted by police in 2018 is all accounted for and safely destroyed through the use of an incinerator by the RSIPF, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), under Solomon Island Police Support Program (SIPDP) advisors, with the support of Solomon Island Customs and the Solomon Islands Ports Authority, after approval for destruction was received from relevant authorities to destroy these dangerous drugs. This bulk cocaine was destroyed in 2019.
Again, as explained, these 500kg of cocaine were removed from the Rove Police Exhibit office to a secured location at Rove Police Headquarters, where there is a 24/7-armed security watch, until they were finally destroyed.
The decision to relocate the bulk cocaine was made because the exhibit room has no capacity to hold these large quantities of drugs, and secondly, there is the security concern.
Highly valued Exhibits like drugs are not just stored anyhow; they must be kept in very secure storage or buildings where there is a constant high security presence and surveillance.
RSIPF did not hire armed security to do this job, as claimed by Sasako. PRT was activated to provide 24/7-armed security watch over these drugs until they were finally destroyed.
RSIPF wants to make it clear to the general public as well that police can designate any appropriate location or building or office to keep exhibits as long as it is safe and secure.
We have exhibits of motor vehicles, boats, OBMs, etc., that cannot be stored in an exhibit room; as such, police can designate secured areas/locations that have the capacity to store heavy equipment, etc.
Exhibits like drugs are treated differently from ordinary exhibits. However, this is an operational matter for the police to make its decision and manage them.
All the documents relating to the movement of these drugs are well recorded and kept, as this is a very important part of the process for handling exhibits.
All legal documents relating to the approval for the destruction of the cocaine are also available with the police, and Mr. Sasako is advised to come and view them should he wish.
Unfortunately, RSIPF is not obliged to share these documents on social media because they are police operational documents.
However, at the police media conference held at Rove Police Headquarters soon after the bulk cocaine destruction was done in 2019, the former police commissioner Mathew Varley, who presided over that media conference, explained in full detail the processes and the decisions reached to destroy the cocaine. It is therefore unnecessary to again explain these processes.
After the sad incident of the missing one link SBD300,000.00 exhibit cash money from the Rove Exhibit office in 2020, the RSIPF is reviewing and working on improving its exhibit policy.
The RSIPF is calling on all mainstream media to work with the RSIPF Media Office so that they get facts right before reporting to avoid unnecessary inconveniences and misleading narratives.
Nonetheless, we want to appreciate the media streams that continue to work with RSIPF to keep our communities informed of the good work of our police and for professional and balanced reporting.
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[RSIPF]
