Fijians from low- and middle-income families have increasingly turned to illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine, commonly referred to as ‘ice’, as a means of generating easy money. This rising trend has prompted concerns from both the Fiji Police Force and advocacy groups.
A recent investigation conducted by Shine a Light over a two-month period has uncovered alarming findings about how many Fijians, particularly the youth, are engaging in the local production, sale, and consumption of methamphetamine. Although there are no official studies quantifying the monetary value of the meth market in Fiji, police sources and drug users estimate its worth to be in the billions.
Earlier this year, police conducted two major drug raids in Nadi, leading to the confiscation of 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine valued at $2 billion. This significant bust followed a major drug seizure in June 2004, when authorities confiscated $1 billion worth of meth and related chemicals from a lab in Suva.
Meth has historically been a domestic issue in Fiji, but recent nationwide awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts highlight the ongoing challenge.
One meth user, identified as U.D., noted that in the 1990s and 2000s, a small amount of meth purchased on the street could cost around $250. Today, sex workers can obtain meth for as low as $5, making it cheaper than marijuana.
In many urban and suburban areas, meth is readily accessible, with locals often choosing to ignore the problem due to fear or social ties with those involved in drug trade. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations, Livai Driu, reported a noticeable increase in individuals engaging in the use of ‘white drugs’ like meth and cocaine.
The total number of recorded illicit drug cases has surged since 2021, with more meth cases reported in the first four months of 2024 alone than in the previous five years. Driu acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing that drug use is now a concern not only in urban centers but also in outer islands like the Lau Group, where the government claims they are losing the battle against drugs.
Many meth users interviewed were found to come from low-income backgrounds and began their drug use journey at a young age, exacerbated by relationships with other users. They shared similar negative impacts of meth addiction, including significant weight loss and insomnia.
Vabauta, a mother of four, recounted her early introduction to drugs, attributing her addiction to peer pressure. She experimented with various substances, including meth, which ultimately led her to contemplate violence and isolation. Similarly, Michael, a sex worker in his early thirties, shared the detrimental effects of his meth use, including extended periods without sleep.
Recent police data indicates that the trend is troubling, highlighting opportunistic behavior among unemployed youth. In the first seven months of 2024 alone, there were 1,047 cases of illicit drug possession, a notable increase from the 727 reported for the same period in 2023. The demographic with the most registered drug offenders since 2019 falls between the ages of 18 and 35.
With the ongoing challenges, local advocates like Sesenieli Naitala, also known as Bui, are striving to improve the situation by raising awareness about drug abuse and its consequences, especially among young people. Bui volunteers with Drug-Free World Fiji and has established a sanctuary for sex workers and drug users in Suva known as the Survival Advocacy Network (SAN).
During outreach sessions at St Giles Psychiatric Hospital, Bui encountered numerous individuals struggling with addiction issues, including a 17-year-old patient who used meth as a way to cope with personal difficulties. Bui reported that the conversation around drug issues is growing, as community members, schools, and families start to recognize the severity of the problem.
Bui believes her advocacy work is contributing to positive change, stating that awareness and police-led efforts are helping to bring the issue of meth into broader discussions in society.
This article marks the first installment of a five-part series examining the increasing issue of methamphetamine in Fiji, aiming to explore local production and its prevalence in the outer islands.