Fijians from low- and middle-income families are increasingly turning to illicit drugs, particularly methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘ice’, as a means of quick income—a trend that has raised alarms among the Fiji Police Force and advocates.
A recent two-month investigation by Shine a Light into the illicit drug trade in Fiji unveiled alarming findings, particularly concerning the involvement of young Fijians in the production, sale, and consumption of methamphetamine. Although no formal valuation of the ice market in Fiji exists, police sources and users estimate its worth to be in the billions. Earlier this year, police conducted two significant drug raids in Nadi, seizing 4.15 tonnes of meth valued at around $2 billion. This follows a major bust in June 2004, where drugs and chemicals worth $1 billion were confiscated from a Suva laboratory.
Methamphetamine has historically been a domestic drug, but recent national awareness programs and advocacy efforts highlight its growing presence. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a small amount of meth might have cost $250; today, users, including sex workers, can inject meth for as little as $5, less than the price of marijuana. Meth is now easily accessible in nearly every corner of Fiji’s urban and rural areas, with many community members aware of its presence yet often ignoring it due to fear and personal connections.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Livai Driu, noted a significant increase in involvement with ‘white drugs’ like meth and cocaine. Since 2021, overall illicit drug cases have surged, with more meth cases reported in the first four months of 2024 than in the previous five years. Driu expressed concern over the trend, particularly among unemployed youth, as Police intensify their efforts to tackle drug supply in urban centers.
The problem is not limited to urban regions; outer islands, especially the Lau Groups, also face rising meth issues. Users, often from low-income families, reported that addiction began early and escalated after associating with other drug users, leading to severe health consequences such as weight loss and insomnia.
Personal accounts of addiction reveal the devastating impact of meth. One user, a mother of four identified as Vabauta, emphasized peer pressure as a catalyst for her drug use, which included meth, marijuana, and glue. After experiencing a crisis that led her to consider harming others, she ultimately ceased using meth. Similarly, Michael, a sex worker, began his drug journey with marijuana at 17 and transitioned to meth three years ago, describing the toll it took on his mental and physical health.
Community advocates, like Sesenieli Naitala (Bui), work tirelessly to address the crisis and raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. Through programs conducted at institutions like St Giles Psychiatric Hospital, she interacts with individuals grappling with addiction, including a 17-year-old meth user who resorted to drugs as a coping mechanism for life’s challenges.
Bui, who leads the non-profit Drug-Free World Fiji, has noticed a rising collaborative effort among various sectors, including the church and government, to combat the drug problem in Fiji. She believes this growing recognition of meth as a crisis is crucial for fostering dialogue and sustaining reform efforts.
This article marks the first in a five-part series exploring the escalating methamphetamine crisis in Fiji, investigating its production and prevalence, particularly in outer islands.