Fiji’s strategic location in the Pacific Ocean positions it as a key transit point for international drug cartels and syndicates transporting illegal substances to Australia and New Zealand. The connections established by these cartels across the Pacific, particularly in Fiji and Tonga, have raised concerns among police and transnational crime experts. They anticipate an increase in the tactics and influences of drug syndicates, especially as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal activities.
However, Fiji’s drug-related issues extend beyond mere transit operations. There has been a notable rise in local production of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth or ice. Law enforcement has conducted raids on residences, confiscating equipment used for meth production, and identified locations where meth usage is prevalent. Recently, police confiscated drug-making apparatus from Canada at a Nadi warehouse, highlighting the complexity of the local drug trade.
The Pacific remains a vital route for the smuggling of drugs from South America and Southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Meth produced by Southeast Asian organized crime groups is often transported through the Pacific, with Fiji serving as a crucial hub due to its geography and economic activity. Meanwhile, drugs like meth from Mexico and cocaine from South America follow different trafficking trajectories toward Fiji and Tonga before reaching their final destinations.
Mr. Sousa-Santos emphasized the necessity for the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority to remain vigilant for drugs concealed within other goods headed for export.
Investigations reveal that sophisticated networks exploit Fiji’s geographic advantages, allowing drug traffickers to move significant quantities of illicit drugs across borders unnoticed. They utilize satellite phones and grid coordinates to pinpoint collection locations outside of Fiji’s maritime surveillance zone, employing air, sea, and human carriers for smuggling operations. The primary modes of transport include yachts and small vessels, which often offload substantial sums of meth within or beyond Fiji’s exclusive economic zone.
Following recent drug raids in Nadi, it is evident that Fiji’s illicit drug network is intricate. A major seizure of 4.15 tonnes of meth occurred after careful planning, and the drugs arrived in Fiji via a hired barge on December 23. The operation involved multiple attempts to retrieve drugs from a superyacht anchored outside Fiji’s waters. The trafficking operation included meticulous logistics, using rental vehicles, and local networks for distribution.
Communications for these drug shipments began months in advance, with multiple locations prepared ahead of time to store large amounts of meth. The arrested individuals predominantly belong to mid-tier roles within the operation, with higher-level orchestrators remaining at large and unapprehended.
Mr. Sousa-Santos highlighted that the recent police actions mostly apprehended those operating at the mid-tier, indicating that the key players behind the extensive drug movements remain elusive.