Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua says the recent surge in major drug seizures is the result of a deliberate shift in approach by the Coalition Government, arguing that similar criminal activity previously went largely undetected.
In a statement shared on social media, Mr Tikoduadua said large-scale drug operations are now being uncovered because authorities are actively targeting organised crime networks, rather than reacting after the fact.
“Remember: big drug busts are only happening because the Coalition Government is actively going after these criminals — leveraging our partnerships, finite resources and acting only when we have credible and actionable intelligence,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua suggested that before the change in government, significant criminal activity often escaped detection.
“Imagine what used to happen under the radar before the Coalition Government,” he added.
He did not elaborate further on this claim.
Since coming into office, the Coalition Government of Fiji has repeatedly pointed to strengthened cooperation between local enforcement agencies and international partners as a key factor behind recent high-profile seizures, including multi-tonne drug interceptions and arrests linked to transnational syndicates.
The minister’s comments come amid ongoing court proceedings and investigations linked to some of the country’s largest-ever drug busts, which have intensified public debate around border security, accountability and the scale of organised crime operating in Fiji.
