A special police team has been deployed to Taveuni to look into the reports and complaints of Yaqona theft on the island.

Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says there has been an increase in reports of Yaqona being stolen from farms.

During a talanoa session in Taveuni last week, concerned farmers stated that Yaqona plants, as young as a year old are being uprooted and sold off.

Qiliho told villagers, they are aware of all the cases and they are working to catch the culprits.

He is also urging the Yaqona farmers to share with police any information they have with regards to their stolen produce.