Fiji and the broader Pacific region are becoming increasingly attractive targets for international drug syndicates, as significant criminal networks are leveraging the area as both a transit hub and a growing local drug market, according to Associate Professor Jose Santos from the Pacific Regional Security Hub. During a workshop focused on the National Pastoral Response to Drugs in Suva, Professor Santos expressed his grave concerns about the extent of the problem, characterizing it as a multi-billion-dollar enterprise taking advantage of the Pacific’s geographic isolation, inadequate maritime surveillance, and weak local governance.
Highlighting the financial incentives driving traffickers, Professor Santos noted that a kilogram of cocaine that costs approximately US$50,000 in New York can fetch up to US$350,000 in Australia. This stark profit margin is prompting traffickers to utilize the Pacific not only for transit but also as a base for developing local markets, leading to disturbing trends within Fijian communities, such as increased intravenous drug use among youth.
Professor Santos shared alarming anecdotes, including instances of children as young as 11 and 12 using drugs on the streets, further underscoring the urgent need for intervention. He warned that these drug syndicates are not only well-organized but are also increasingly intertwining with local communities by compensating local facilitators in drugs rather than cash, laying the groundwork for the local drug markets to flourish.
In response to the growing threat, Fiji’s Minister for Policing and Communications, Ioane Naivalurua, emphasized a dual approach of reinforcing enforcement mechanisms while fostering community-based responses. “We are combining intelligence, arrests, and border security with strong community engagement to prevent drug use and protect families,” he affirmed, highlighting the government’s commitment to tackling this crisis.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by rising seizures of methamphetamine and other illicit substances in Fiji. According to United Nations data, methamphetamine is identified as the primary drug threat in the Pacific, alongside escalating rates of injecting drug use that pose significant public health risks, including the potential spread of HIV.
Community engagement is deemed vital, with churches, traditional leaders, non-government organizations, and local communities being encouraged to take active roles in prevention, early intervention, and educational initiatives. Professor Santos pointedly remarked that delay in addressing this issue could jeopardize the future of an entire generation, framing it as a problem that transcends crime, threatening the region’s social, moral, and economic landscape.
Further complicating the response efforts, logistics expert Amit Chand highlighted the sophistication of drug cartels, which reportedly utilize million-dollar narco-submarines to undermine Fiji’s law enforcement institutions by corrupting key individuals. During a counter-narcotics consultation hosted by the Ministry of Policing, Chand warned that even one compromised officer could dismantle entire operations, fostering a cycle of corruption and public distrust.
Chand advocated for enhanced measures, including mandatory random polygraph testing for Counter Narcotics Bureau officers and lifestyle audits to detect potential corruption. He also recommended the need for collaborative operations involving Customs, the Navy, and military intelligence, as well as reforms to ensure that serious drug offenses are treated as non-bailable.
Fiji’s counter-narcotics bill is projected to be presented to the Cabinet by March, signifying the government’s commitment to revitalizing its strategy to combat the escalating drug crises in the region. As the consultations continue, stakeholders remain focused on building robust frameworks to prevent the domino effect of corruption and enhance overall community safety and resilience against drug-related challenges.
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