Fiji is facing the imminent threat of becoming a ‘semi-narco state’ due to a rising methamphetamine issue, according to transnational crime expert Jose Sousa-Santos. He warns that this could lead to significant control by Southeast Asian cartels and criminal networks over the nation.
The meth problem is not confined to urban areas in Viti Levu; remote islands like the Lau Group are also impacted, notably due to their popularity among international yacht visitors and insufficient security at transport hubs, such as wharves and domestic flights. This vulnerability has allowed for an increase in the barter of illicit drugs, including meth and marijuana, particularly on Moala island.
The youth population in these regions is already showing worrying signs of drug use, contributing to high dropout rates and alcohol consumption. Sousa-Santos emphasized that the lucrative illegal drug market is sustaining these activities, putting Fiji at risk of further deterioration.
He noted that Fiji has a troubling history of multiple criminal syndicates operating due to the involvement of business elites, with a significant seizure of meth earlier this year indicating a longer-standing issue with drug trafficking that has previously gone unaddressed.
Reflecting on the ongoing meth crisis, Sousa-Santos mentioned that public understanding of meth’s devastating impact on Fijian society has been inadequate. He asserted that there needs to be greater awareness and readiness for the growing threat posed by the drug and associated criminal activities.
The rise in meth use among the youth is alarming, with St Giles Psychiatric Hospital in Suva reporting that meth has surpassed cannabis as the leading drug among young patients. Medical superintendent Dr. Balram Pandit shared that nearly all male youth patients receiving treatment were using meth, and the youngest patient admitted for meth dependence is just 17 years old. Treatment at the hospital relies on a combination of drug therapies and counseling, with recovery dependent on the individual’s motivation.
The meth trafficking crisis is also destabilizing rural communities in the Lau Group, further complicating local challenges with marijuana. Sousa-Santos highlighted that the erosion of traditional authority structures is leading to an increase in domestic violence and human trafficking, as young people migrate to urban areas for illicit activities.
Kalesi Volatabu, founder of Drug-Free World Fiji, has been advocating for a dedicated rehabilitation facility since 2019, expressing frustration that no progress has been made. She sees the community confronting the drug crisis, with villagers rejecting the increasing influence of drugs and crime in their lives.
This report concludes a six-part series on the methamphetamine crisis affecting Fiji.