Fijians from low- and middle-income families are increasingly turning to illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine, or ‘ice’, as a means of generating quick cash. This alarming trend has raised concerns among the Fiji Police Force and various advocacy groups.
A recent two-month investigation by Shine a Light into the illicit drug trade in Fiji has uncovered startling findings about the involvement of many Fijians, especially youth, in the local production, sale, and consumption of methamphetamine.
While formal studies on the financial scope of the meth market in Fiji are lacking, police insiders and drug users estimate its value to be in the billions of dollars. Earlier this year, law enforcement conducted two significant drug raids in Nadi, resulting in the confiscation of 4.15 tonnes of meth valued at $2 billion. The previous notable bust occurred in June 2004 when $1 billion worth of meth and manufacturing chemicals were seized from a laboratory in Suva.
Historically, meth has been a homegrown drug; however, recent nationwide awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts have aimed to combat its proliferation.
A meth user in his fifties, identified as U.D, recalls that in the 1990s and early 2000s, a small quantity of meth purchased on the streets could cost around $250. Today, he notes that sex workers can inject meth for as little as $5, making it cheaper than marijuana.
Meth is now readily accessible on virtually every street corner throughout Fiji’s urban and residential areas, a reality known to many locals who often choose to ignore it due to fear or social ties. Assistant Police Commissioner Livai Driu stated that there is an increasing involvement of individuals in white drugs like meth and cocaine.
Since 2021, there has been a dramatic rise in registered illicit drug cases, particularly meth-related incidents, with more cases already reported in the first four months of 2024 than in the previous five years. “It poses quite a challenge for us,” Mr. Driu stated in a recent interview.
The meth issue has extended beyond urban areas, with outer islands, particularly the Lau Group, experiencing the crisis, which the Government admits it is struggling to control. Interviews with meth users revealed that many began with marijuana in childhood, eventually exacerbating their addiction through association with other drug users. Users reported severe consequences of their addiction, such as significant weight loss and insomnia.
Vabauta, a mother of four, candidly shared that she started using drugs at a young age due to peer influence, experimenting with various substances, including meth. After struggling with the drug, which led her to contemplate violence and isolation, she eventually quit. Michael, a thirty-something sex worker, also recounted his difficult journey with meth, describing an experience of sleeplessness lasting over a week.
U.D explained the physical and psychological toll of meth use, noting symptoms like drastic weight loss and paranoia that affected both his behavior and health.
As troubling statistics indicate a rise in drug offenses, Assistant Commissioner Driu highlighted a concerning trend among unemployed youth, as police intensify their efforts to combat drug supply, particularly in urban areas. Recent police reports revealed that from January to July 2024, there were 1,047 cases of unlawful possession of illicit drugs, a significant jump from 727 during the same timeframe the previous year.
A local advocate, Sesenieli Naitala, known as Bui, is working to reverse this concerning trend by promoting drug awareness and education about the dangers of substance abuse. She leads the grassroots movement Drug-Free World Fiji and founded a sanctuary for sex workers and drug addicts called the Survival Advocacy Network in Suva.
Bui actively engages with individuals struggling with addiction, including a recent outreach session at St Giles Psychiatric Hospital. During this session, she encountered a 17-year-old patient who used meth as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges. Bui’s efforts aim not only to provide support for individuals in recovery but also to raise awareness about the broader implications of drug abuse on community safety and well-being.
Highlighting the rising crimes related to meth, Bui expressed faith in her advocacy work, stating that awareness is growing among families, schools, and communities about the meth crisis facing Fiji. As this topic is increasingly discussed nationwide, both Bui and law enforcement hope to combat the escalating meth problem.
This article is the first installment of a series addressing the methamphetamine crisis in Fiji, which will investigate local production and the drug’s prevalence in outer islands.