Police are investigating the discovery of 62 parcels containing white substances that have washed up along Fiji’s coastline, with forensic testing now underway to determine their contents.
The Fiji Police Force confirmed that 27 parcels recovered in the Lau Group are currently being analysed at the Fiji Police Forensics Laboratory in Suva.
The development comes as officers from the Forensic and Criminal Investigations Department have been deployed with the Republic of Fiji Navy to retrieve and investigate a further 35 parcels found floating near Munia Island on Thursday afternoon.
Police said the discovery in Lau was quickly reported by the Turaga ni Koro, allowing the parcels to be secured by officers from the Vanua Balavu Police Station.
The latest finds add to a growing number of suspicious packages being recovered from Fiji’s shores. In an earlier incident, a sealed clear plastic package found in Kadavu tested positive for cocaine.
Another parcel containing a white substance was discovered yesterday morning along the shoreline near a settlement in Qamea. Police were immediately notified and the package was retrieved for further examination.
Authorities say all efforts are being focused on locating and recovering any remaining parcels for testing by forensic experts.
Investigators are also working closely with regional and local law enforcement partners to establish the source and intended destination of the packages.
The Fiji Police Force has urged members of the public, particularly those living in coastal communities, to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious parcels to the Drug Tip-Off Line on 1681.
Police have also warned people not to handle, open or move any packages they may find, stressing that doing so could pose significant safety and legal risks.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine whether the discoveries are linked and if the parcels form part of a larger international drug trafficking operation.
