Fijians from low- and middle-income families are increasingly turning to illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘ice’, as a means of easy income. This alarming trend has raised concerns among the Fiji Police Force and advocates.
An investigation led by Shine a Light over two months uncovered disturbing insights into the local production, sale, and use of methamphetamine among Fijians, especially the youth, who are investing both time and money in this trade. While no formal studies exist to determine the cash value of the meth market in Fiji, police reports and user testimonies suggest that it could be worth billions.
Earlier this year, two significant police drug raids in Nadi resulted in the confiscation of 4.15 tonnes of meth, valued at $2 billion. The last major drug seizure occurred in June 2004, when authorities seized $1 billion worth of meth and related chemicals from a manufacturing laboratory in Suva.
Meth has traditionally been a domestic issue in Fiji, but it has recently gained broader attention due to national awareness initiatives. Users report dramatic price decreases, with a small amount of meth that used to cost $250 in the 1990s and 2000s now available for as little as $5, making it more accessible than marijuana.
Methamphetamine is reportedly found on nearly every street in Fiji’s urban areas. While known to many, residents often ignore the issue due to fear of repercussions and personal connections.
Livai Driu, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Operations, noted a significant increase in individuals engaging with drugs like meth and cocaine. The number of registered illicit drug cases has surged, with the first four months of 2024 seeing more meth cases than in the past five years.
Driu pointed out that meth use has spread beyond urban areas, with outer islands, notably the Lau Group, facing similar challenges. Many meth users interviewed were former marijuana addicts from low-income families, whose addictions began at a young age and escalated through associations with other drug users. Users frequently cited severe side effects, including weight loss and insomnia.
A mother of four using the pseudonym Vabauta revealed that peer pressure led her to drug use from a young age. After experiencing violent tendencies and severe isolation due to meth, she eventually stopped using it. Similarly, another user named Michael recounted his struggle with addiction, which began at 17 with marijuana and progressed to meth use over the last three years, leaving him sleepless and unhealthy.
Police statistics indicate a drastic rise in drug possession cases in 2024, with 1,047 unlawful possession incidents logged in the first seven months, up from 727 during the same period in 2023. Young adults aged 18-35 constitute the bulk of registered offenders, and this year’s numbers are projected to surpass last year’s figures.
Local advocate Sesenieli Naitala, also known as Bui, is part of a movement to tackle the drug problem by raising awareness about substance abuse, especially among youth. She volunteers with Drug-Free World Fiji and runs a sanctuary for sex workers and drug addicts, which aims to aid recovery.
Naitala shared a poignant case about a 17-year-old patient at a psychiatric hospital who turned to meth to cope with life’s difficulties, a situation that highlights the broader issue of substance abuse putting individuals at risk. Since the pandemic, the hospital has resumed outreach programs to address drug addiction, previously sidelined.
Naitala believes that the fight against meth addiction is gaining traction, with increasing participation from schools, families, and communities acknowledging the gravity of the situation. This article marks the first installment in a five-part series examining the escalating methamphetamine problem in Fiji, focusing on local production and prevalence in outer islands.