Fiji’s geographic location in the Pacific Ocean positions it as a significant transit point for international drug trafficking networks targeting Australia and New Zealand. With established connections to regions such as Fiji and Tonga, local and foreign cartels exploit these pathways for illicit drug transportation.
Law enforcement and transnational crime experts express concern about the growing influence and tactics of these drug syndicates in response to intensified governmental crackdowns on illicit activities. Notably, Fiji has evolved beyond merely serving as a transit hub; local production of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth or ice, has also emerged as locals seek to profit from the drug trade.
Police operations have uncovered meth production facilities, executing raids that resulted in the confiscation of meth-cooking apparatus. Various areas across the country have been identified as hotspots for meth use. For instance, in July 2023, police seized drug production equipment from Canada in a Nadi warehouse, indicating a connection to the local meth scene.
Authorities have tracked at least two criminal syndicates engaged in both local meth production and international drug shipments, while another group only handles imported narcotics. Although police haven’t disclosed specific locations for meth production, efforts to profile and dismantle these networks are ongoing. Two of these cartels have operated in Fiji for extended periods—16 years and 10 years, respectively.
Transnational crime expert Jose Sousa-Santos suggests that the syndicates’ longevity in Fiji can be attributed to the involvement of elite figures in government and law enforcement, facilitating drug movements that negatively impact communities. He explains that these operations depend on the engagement of powerful individuals who maintain influence and connections.
Following up on an prior exposé regarding Fiji’s meth issues, this article delves deeper into the transshipment of meth, local production and distribution, and the identities of those involved in the trade. It includes a detailed account of how 4.15 tons of meth made its way to Viti Levu.
The Pacific remains a crucial drug transit route, especially for narcotics trafficked from South America and Southeast Asia aimed at Australian and New Zealand markets. Fiji’s role as a regional hub is augmented by its large population and economic factors.
Methods of transportation for illicit drugs involve sophisticated tactics, including the use of yachts, boats, and small crafts, often operating beyond Fiji’s exclusive economic zone to avoid detection. Once drugs hit Fiji’s shores, local networks comprising vulnerable groups assist transshipment, effectively enabling the drug trade to flourish in the region.
Recent drug raids in Nadi illustrate the complexity of Fiji’s illicit drug networks. Notably, one significant operation examined how over 4 tons of meth were smuggled into the country using a hired barge. Intricate planning took place months before the shipment, involving thorough preparations by various operatives, including unknowing local participants.
Throughout these operations, significant communications occurred between masterminds and local mid-tier operatives well before the illegal shipments. The aftermath of these illicit activities often involves using unsuspecting locals in the drug distribution chain, highlighting how interconnected networks collaborate to facilitate drug trafficking.
Police actions have predominantly led to the arrest of mid-tier operatives without apprehending the key figures orchestrating these massive drug operations. According to Sousa-Santos, this reflects a critical gap in addressing the higher echelons involved in the drug trade, which results in unaddressed influences facilitating the movement of substantial quantities of narcotics through Fiji.