An ongoing investigation into police officers allegedly involved in colluding with a drug trade network has expanded as eight officers are now under scrutiny.
The investigation, which has attracted the attention of both the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and New Zealand Police (NZP), is centered around a series of communications allegedly initiated by an overseas individual through the messaging platform Viber.
Fiji’s Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu, confirmed that the eight officers have been implicated.
“This is a serious matter,” Commissioner Tudravu said in a statement.
“Our Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has analyzed the posts, and the evidence has led us to believe that eight officers are involved. As a result, we have seized all their phones to conduct digital forensic analysis.”
The involvement of foreign law enforcement agencies is a critical part of the investigation. Commissioner Tudravu explained that the individual believed to be behind the Viber communications is residing overseas, and both the AFP and NZP have swiftly come on board to assist in gathering additional evidence and intelligence.
As part of the investigation, authorities have also made contact with the individual who posted the screenshots that brought the case to light. Plans are in place to obtain a formal statement from her, which could provide further clarity on the extent of the officers’ involvement in criminal activities.
The Commissioner also assured the public that the investigation would be expedited and that updates would be provided regularly. He reiterated that the seriousness of the situation could not be overstated, and the police force was determined to restore public trust and ensure that any officers found guilty of misconduct would face appropriate consequences.
“These officers are entrusted with the responsibility of upholding the law, and if these allegations are proven true, they will be held accountable,” Tudravu stated firmly.
