Four Ecuadorians charged in the Vatia cocaine bust are not Fijian nationals.
Permanent secretary for Immigration, Aliki Salusalu clarified the matter following recent social media reports suggesting the accused persons were issued Fijian passports.
He said the four foreign nationals are holders of valid Ecuadorian passports and are not Fijian citizens.
“Contrary to earlier social media reports, the individuals concerned do not hold Fijian passports, nor are they Fijian nationals,” he said.
“This clarification is issued to ensure the accuracy of information disseminated to the public and to prevent any further misunderstanding regarding the nationality and travel documents of the accused persons.”
Mr Salusalu added that the Ministry of Immigration continues to support the ongoing police investigation and is ready to provide any assistance required to facilitate the process.
The four Ecuadorian nationals remain in police custody as investigations into the Vatia cocaine bust continue.
