Methamphetamine and cocaine smuggled into Pacific nations have been discovered hidden inside audio speakers and instant noodle packets.
Fiji police have intercepted these illicit drugs along with controlled steroids concealed in everyday items like coffee. This information was revealed in the newly released United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact,” which was presented in Suva yesterday.
The report details the evolving tactics employed by smugglers to introduce their products into the region, with Fiji and Papua New Guinea being particularly vulnerable to these illegal activities. It also noted that the Air Cargo Control Unit at Nadi International Airport has confiscated numerous smaller shipments of drugs via mail and parcels.
Between February 2021 and September 2023, there were 16 seizures, of which 11 involved methamphetamine. The quantities seized ranged from 200 grams to 5 kilograms, with the meth originating from countries including the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Additionally, the report highlighted the presence of several small criminal networks operating outside of Fiji that assist in these drug shipments, particularly individuals from Fiji who live abroad.
According to the report, “in Fiji, drop-offs at sea are often carried out by vessels equipped with locating devices.” It reported that drug wash-ups in various Pacific nations stem from unsuccessful drop-off attempts. While there have been no seizures of illicit substances from rafts in the Pacific, there have been instances of rafts found in Fiji indicating possible drug shipments.
The UNODC report warned that the establishment of a regional drug market poses threats to security and governance in the Pacific, along with serious health and social repercussions. It commended policymakers for their efforts to tackle this escalating drug problem.
However, the report stressed that authorities must remain vigilant and adapt to shifting trafficking routes and methods employed by organized crime. “As law enforcement increases their focus on drug interdiction in one area, traffickers may resort to new pathways across different jurisdictions in the Pacific.”