Local drug dealers in Fiji are reportedly being compensated with drugs themselves, according to Marie Pegie Cauchois, a regional anti-corruption advisor for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. During a recent panel discussion at the Fiji Law Society Convention in Nadi focused on transnational crime in the Pacific, Cauchois highlighted the troubling trend of drug trafficking within the local market, where individuals facilitating the trade are receiving drugs as a form of payment.
Cauchois expressed concern about the local drug market, which has been created in a manner that fosters dependency among those involved. “These individuals become dependents—not necessarily through direct consumption of the drugs but through financial reliance on the narcotics trade,” she noted. This arrangement, she warned, could undermine trust in law enforcement agencies tasked with combating these issues. She explained that infiltrations into customs and law enforcement could lead to increased risk of corruption and reduce the efficacy of efforts to curb drug trafficking.
Her remarks align with broader tensions regarding Fiji’s strategic geographical position in the Pacific, which has made it a prime transit point for international drug cartels aiming to smuggle illicit substances into Australia and New Zealand. This has led to a rise in local production of methamphetamine, widely referred to as meth or ice, as evidenced by recent police raids and confiscations of drug production equipment sourced from overseas.
New Zealand Crown Prosecutor Luke Cunningham corroborated the lucrative nature of this drug trade, stating that in New Zealand, methamphetamine sell for substantial prices. A mere gram retails for around NZD 100 ($F130.82), and the profits from wholesale transactions can see prices fluctuate dramatically, further driving the criminal enterprise.
Recent investigations have unearthed complex networks operating within Fiji that involve both local production and distribution of meth. Authorities have pinpointed at least two significant criminal syndicates that produce meth while simultaneously importing drugs from abroad. The methods employed by traffickers often include sophisticated logistics and coordination, particularly as shipments are repackaged to avoid detection.
Concerns remain about the efficacy of local law enforcement, as evidence suggests that only mid-tier operatives are often apprehended, while those orchestrating these large-scale operations continue to operate unchallenged. Experts stress the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to dismantle these entrenched networks and restore trust within the system, focusing on identifying and holding accountable the high-level individuals behind these networks.
The ongoing challenges facing Fiji exemplify a larger crisis affecting the Pacific region, marked not only by the influx of drug trafficking but also by growing domestic dependence on this illicit economy. While law enforcement continues to step up efforts, the complexity and sophistication of these drug syndicates signal a long and arduous road ahead in the battle against drug-related crime in the region.
Leave a comment