A second shipment of illegal drugs was set to pass through Fiji in February, merely two months after a previous haul of 4.15 tonnes made its way from a yacht to Nadi without detection. Sources familiar with the drug bust in Nadi in January reported that the upcoming shipment was anticipated to be of similar magnitude to the earlier consignment of meth.
The alleged mastermind behind this drug operation is a Lebanese-Australian individual, whose name has been withheld. He reportedly indicated the pickup location for the second shipment, which is thought to be the same distance from Nadi to Rotuma Island. This posed challenges for the barge captain responsible for executing the pickup.
The Lebanese-Australian is known to own several properties in Fiji, including a fitness center in Nadi. In collaboration with his Fijian associate, whose name is also withheld, he had previously arranged for the transport of the initial 4.15 tonnes of meth from international waters to the mainland.
Authorities have been tracking the coordinates provided for the second shipment. However, it is believed that there was a diversion due to the earlier seizure of the meth, which had already left the country for Australia, a lucrative market for the drug.
In the recent drug busts, Fijian authorities intercepted and seized 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine valued at approximately $2 billion, which was en route to Australia. Some of these drugs were intended for the local market as well.
Between January 14 and January 20, police conducted raids in the areas of Legalega and Maqalevu, resulting in the confiscation of a combined 4.15 tonnes of meth. Assistant Commissioner of Police Livai Driu noted a 37 percent increase in arrests following these busts, with 1,105 drug-related cases reported over the last seven months, compared to 805 during the same timeframe last year.
The drugs seized in Nadi are currently stored at the Police Mobile unit while awaiting court decisions regarding their destruction.