Fiji’s geographical location in the Pacific Ocean positions it as a prime transit hub for drug cartels and syndicates operating between overseas markets and Australia and New Zealand. With established networks across the region, particularly in neighboring Fiji and Tonga, drug trafficking has become a significant concern for local law enforcement and transnational crime experts. Authorities anticipate an increase in the tactics and negative influence of these syndicates as crackdowns on illicit activities escalate.
However, Fiji is not just a transit point; locals have begun producing methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth or ice, to profit quickly from the drug trade. Police operations have uncovered meth cooking apparatus in home raids and identified areas known for high meth usage.
In July, authorities confiscated equipment from a shipment arriving from Canada that was intended for producing illicit drugs. Police are currently monitoring two criminal syndicates that manufacture their own meth while also importing drugs, with a third syndicate focusing solely on receiving shipments. While the locations of meth production sites remain undisclosed, work continues to profile and dismantle these operations.
The presence of drug cartels has been noted in Fiji for over a decade. Experts, such as Jose Sousa-Santos, suggest that the involvement of influential individuals within government and law enforcement facilitates the drug trade, allowing harmful substances to permeate local communities.
As a follow-up to recent discussions about Fiji’s meth issue, investigations have detailed the extensive transshipment operations for meth into Fiji, including how a significant seizure of 4.15 tonnes of meth occurred in Nadi.
The Pacific serves as a crucial transit route for drugs trafficked primarily from South America and Southeast Asia to Australian and New Zealand markets. Fiji’s strategic position, combined with its population and economic conditions, makes it an attractive point for these illicit activities, with meth often flowing from Southeast Asian producers through the archipelago.
Cartels utilize various methods to transport drugs, often employing yachts and boats that operate beyond Fiji’s maritime surveillance. Drug traffickers rely on sophisticated navigation using grid coordinates and satellite phones to facilitate these operations.
Once the drugs reach Fiji, local networks emerge, comprised of both convicted criminals and opportunistic individuals known as “foot soldiers,” who help distribute the drugs into the community. Souza-Santos noted that when drugs arrive, they are often stored or divided for sale, as demonstrated by the recent seizures in Nadi.
Evidence from recent drug raids reveals a sophisticated network of operations. A notable case involved the trafficking of 4.15 tonnes of meth into Nadi, orchestrated with precision over several months. The operation began with reconnaissance by unknown individuals assessing the marina waters before the actual delivery was made.
Once the drugs arrived, they were concealed in recycling bags and distributed among local businessmen who may have inadvertently participated in the process. Communication systems involved varied methodologies, including the use of different phone apps to coordinate the trafficking efforts.
Further developments included additional trips to the source yacht after the initial drug delivery, leading to a careful plan for returning empty bags and maintaining communication with traffickers outside of Fiji’s jurisdiction.
The consortium behind this operation stands in stark contrast to law enforcement actions that have predominantly resulted in the arrest of mid-tier operatives, with no major figures from the upper echelons of the trafficking hierarchy being apprehended. Experts raise concerns that substantial players continue to evade capture while local networks suffer the repercussions.