Methamphetamine and cocaine being trafficked to Pacific nations have been discovered hidden inside audio speakers and instant noodle packages. In Fiji, the police have intercepted smuggled drugs and controlled steroids concealed within consumable goods such as coffee.
These findings were presented in a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact,” which was launched in Suva recently.
The report details the innovative methods employed by smugglers to distribute their drugs in the region, with Fiji and Papua New Guinea identified as particularly vulnerable due to their lucrative cargo routes. Furthermore, the report noted that the Air Cargo Control Unit at Nadi International Airport had confiscated smaller shipments of drugs in mail and parcel deliveries.
Between February 2021 and September 2023, there were 16 drug seizures, with 11 of these involving methamphetamine, with amounts ranging from 200 grams to 5 kilograms. The meth was traced back to countries including the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Several small criminal networks operating outside of Fiji, particularly among Fijians living abroad, are facilitating these drug shipments. The report indicated that in Fiji, drug drop-offs at sea are often conducted via vessels and rafts equipped with locating devices. Instances of drugs washing ashore in various Pacific nations are attributed to unsuccessful drop-off attempts. Although no drug seizures from rafts have occurred in the Pacific to date, rafts indicative of drug shipments have been found in Fiji.
The report cautioned that the emergence of a regional drug market poses significant threats not only to security and governance but also presents serious health and social consequences for the Pacific region. The UNODC commended policymakers for their efforts to tackle the escalating drug crisis but emphasized the need for authorities to be vigilant in adapting to shifting trafficking routes and smuggling techniques. As drug interdiction efforts intensify in one area, traffickers may pivot to new routes across the Pacific.