Fijians from low- and middle-income families are increasingly turning to illicit drugs, especially methamphetamine, known as ‘ice,’ as a means of quick income. This alarming trend has raised concerns among the Fiji Police Force and community advocates.
A recent two-month investigation by Shine a Light into the illicit drug trade in Fiji has unveiled disturbing insights about how many Fijians, particularly the youth, are engaging in the local production, sale, and consumption of methamphetamine. While there are no comprehensive studies on the financial scope of the meth market in Fiji, police sources and users estimate its value to be in the billions. Earlier this year, police conducted two significant drug raids in Nadi, resulting in the seizure of 4.15 tonnes of meth valued at $2 billion. The last major drug bust occurred in June 2004, involving $1 billion worth of meth and chemicals confiscated from a laboratory in Suva.
Meth, which was previously not widespread, has seen an increase in public awareness and advocacy efforts in recent years. A meth user in his fifties, identified as U.D, recalled that in the 90s and 2000s, a small amount of meth purchased on the street cost around $250. Now, sex workers can inject meth for as little as $5, which is cheaper than marijuana, making meth readily available across streets and neighborhoods in Fiji.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu noted a growing involvement of individuals with ‘white drugs’ like meth and cocaine. Since 2021, the number of reported illicit drug cases has surged, with the first four months of 2024 showing more meth cases than in the previous five years. Driu acknowledged the challenge the epidemic presents, stating that the issue has spread beyond urban areas to include outer islands, particularly the Lau Groups, which the government admits are struggling with the crisis.
Discussions with meth users revealed a common background of marijuana addiction stemming from low-income families, often initiated at a young age and exacerbated by peer networks. Users reported adverse effects from meth addiction, including significant weight loss and prolonged insomnia. A mother known as Vabauta, who began using drugs early in life, cited peer pressure as a trigger for her addiction to meth and other substances. She eventually stopped using meth after experiencing violent impulses and extreme isolation, during which she once went 14 consecutive days without sleep.
Similar experiences were shared by Michael, a thirty-something sex worker who started using marijuana at 17 and later turned to meth. He described the detrimental health effects, including sleeplessness lasting over a week. U.D recounted how social drinking led him to meth use, adversely affecting his behavior and health, leaving him paranoid and withdrawn.
According to police statistics, the number of drug possession cases recorded in the first seven months of 2024 was 1,047, a rise from 727 cases in the same period of 2023. Most drug offenders fall within the 18 to 35 age group, a trend that shows no signs of abating, with 718 offenders recorded from January to July 2024 compared to 514 in the same period the previous year. Driu highlighted that many of those arrested originate from informal and squatter settlements, participating in theft and other crimes to fund their drug habits.
One local advocate, Sesenieli Naitala, known as Bui, is actively addressing the drug crisis through education and outreach focused on substance abuse’s ramifications, particularly among youth. As a volunteer with Drug-Free World Fiji, Bui spearheads initiatives to combat drug abuse. She has also founded a sanctuary in Suva for sex workers and drug addicts called the Survival Advocacy Network.
The outreach program Bui leads at St Giles Psychiatric Hospital was resumed after a hiatus due to COVID-19, facilitating discussions around addiction and recovery. She recounted a poignant case of a 17-year-old meth user who turned to drugs as a coping mechanism, leading to alarming behaviors, including attempts to steal for drug money and suicidal thoughts.
Bui noted that community acceptance of drug abuse issues is now on the rise, with a collaborative response from various sectors including churches, the government, and civil society organizations. She described Fiji’s current situation as a meth “crisis,” particularly in light of a spike in meth-related crimes. Though she is hopeful that advocacy efforts are making a difference, she emphasizes the importance of ongoing dialogue and action across the nation regarding the meth epidemic.