The illicit drug trade, particularly methamphetamine trafficking, has emerged as a severe threat to Fiji’s socio-economic fabric, health, and national security, according to High Court Judge Justice Aruna Aluthge.
In his ruling delivered on Thursday involving a record-breaking 4.15-tonne methamphetamine seizure, Justice Aluthge highlighted the gravity of the offence and its far-reaching consequences for the nation.
“The illicit drug offending has become a serious problem in Fiji. Large quantities of hard drugs have been seized in the recent past,” he said.
“Fiji has become an attractive transit point for drug traffickers largely due to its convenient location in the South Pacific, linking the supply route of the Americas with Australia and New Zealand, where the illicit drug trade has become a lucrative underground business.”
The judge emphasised the unprecedented scale of the drug consignment, valued at an estimated $2 billion with an average purity level of 80%.
“If it went undetected, the traffickers would have been able to adulterate it by mixing other substances to increase the profit margin.”
Justice Aluthge pointed Fiji is more vulnerable to drugs given its strained economy, already feeding the poor, uneducated, and underprivileged communities.”
“It is widely believed that methamphetamine abuse in Fiji is connected to criminal activities and the spread of HIV through shared syringes.”
“Despite the many challenges our law enforcement agencies face, this case proves they are still capable of tackling sophisticated drug cartels — cartels that were equipped with superyachts, satellite phones, encrypted messaging apps, and the blessings of local politicians.”