A major drug operation has uncovered connections between Sam Amine, a known criminal in Australia, and a syndicate of Fijian nationals involved in trafficking a staggering 4.15 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine discovered in Nadi last year. Amine, currently in custody in Australia for separate drug offenses, had fled following January raids in Legalega and Maqalevu where the significant drug cache was found.
Amine has a notable history of criminal activity, including an arrest by New South Wales Police in May of the previous year for his suspected collaboration in a drug supply network that implicated a Fijian rugby league player, though the charges were eventually dropped. As part of the ongoing investigations, the Australian Federal Police froze assets worth $10 million belonging to Amine, who was alleged to have used encrypted messaging to facilitate the supply of MDMA, cocaine, and firearms across six different instances to an undercover officer.
Further investigations reveal Amine’s connections to prominent criminal factions, specifically the Alameddines and KVT gangs, with particular focus on his associations with members of the KVT syndicate composed of Fijian nationals operating out of Australia.
In response to the drug trafficking crisis, Fijian authorities have actively pursued this case, leading to the arrest of 15 people during the operations. Although these individuals have been granted bail, they remain under close observation as police work collaboratively with international law enforcement agencies to dismantle the trafficking networks involved. Fiji’s geographical position has been highlighted as both a transit point and a site of local distribution for meth, with indications of involvement from various international criminal actors, including suspected Russian and Mexican traffickers.
The crystal meth is believed to have originated from the West Coast of the United States, with portions already circulating in Fiji before intervention by authorities took place. Notably, a close associate of Amine, who operated a kava bar in Nadi, has also been linked to this trafficking network, which was later destroyed by fire following police actions.
The surge in drug-related incidents in Fiji has been alarming, with police reporting a 37 percent rise in drug-related arrests within the last year. Between January and July alone, law enforcement recorded 1,105 drug-related cases, a significant increase from 805 during the same timeframe the year prior.
Amid these challenging times, there is a renewed sense of hope and commitment from law enforcement agencies as they intensify their efforts to combat these organized crime syndicates. The Fiji Police Force, alongside international partners, is steadfast in its mission to dismantle such criminal operations, aiming to create a safer environment for communities across the region.
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