Fiji’s geographic location, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, has made it an attractive hub for international drug cartels to route illicit drugs to Australia and New Zealand. With established networks, particularly in Fiji and Tonga, these syndicates can efficiently transport drugs across the Pacific.
Police and experts in transnational crime are increasingly concerned about the collaboration between local and international drug syndicates, particularly as law enforcement intensifies efforts to combat illegal activities. While Fiji has become a transit point for drugs, locals have also begun producing methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth or ice, for sale and profit. Authorities have conducted raids on homes, confiscating equipment used for meth production, and have identified areas where meth use is prevalent.
In July, police seized drug production equipment imported from Canada, indicating the scale of illicit drug operations in the area. Authorities have identified two criminal syndicates producing their own meth while also importing drugs from overseas, and a third syndicate that solely receives shipments.
Despite a crackdown, experts suggest that corruption at high levels allows these cartels to operate with impunity for more than a decade. Jose Sousa-Santos, a transnational crime expert, emphasized the complicity of some commercial elites within the government and law enforcement, suggesting that they facilitate drug operations, causing significant harm to local communities.
The Pacific serves as a crucial transit route for drugs smuggled from South America and Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Fiji’s strategic position, along with its substantial population and economy, makes it a preferred stop for these operations. Different trafficking methods are employed, and police warn that drug traffickers often use yachts and boats for smuggling, operating outside Fiji’s exclusive economic zone to evade detection.
Significant drug busts in Nadi illustrate the complex nature of Fiji’s illegal drug network. The recent seizure of 4.15 tonnes of meth involved a coordinated operation with careful planning and communication among local operatives and international accomplices. This operation revealed a sophisticated system of logistics, including the use of hired barges and fuel delivery to facilitate drug transfers at sea.
Additionally, a series of trips by local operatives to a superyacht off the coast contributed to the successful importation of these drugs. Evidence suggests an extensive local infrastructure was involved, including accommodations linked to the drug trade and operational support networks.
Mr. Sousa-Santos noted that while mid-tier operatives were arrested in the wake of the Nadi drug busts, the high-level figures who orchestrate these vast operations remain elusive, highlighting the challenge of addressing the deeply rooted drug trafficking problem in Fiji.