People involved in moving illicit drugs on ships outside Fiji could face fines of up to $50 million or life imprisonment under new provisions of the Counter Narcotics Bill 2026.
The Bill, introduced in Parliament yesterday, creates a series of offences targeting the possession, transportation and movement of illicit drugs on ships where there is an intention to import or export the drugs illegally.
Under section 86, a person on an applicable ship would commit an offence by possessing an illicit drug, or knowingly being involved in its transportation, holding or handling, if the drug is intended to be imported into Fiji.
The penalties depend on the drug classification.
For Class A drugs, the maximum penalty is a $50 million fine, life imprisonment, or both.
For Class B drugs, the maximum is a $30 million fine, up to 30 years’ imprisonment, or both.
For Class C drugs, the maximum is a $15 million fine, up to 15 years’ imprisonment, or both.
The Bill states that an offence can apply even if the person allegedly intending to import the drugs is not on the ship, the accused does not know that person’s identity, or the intended importation never takes place.
A person could also be prosecuted for knowingly arranging or preparing for the movement of illicit drugs between ships where there is an intention to illegally import them into Fiji.
The same penalties would apply.
The proposed law also targets drugs that have been illegally exported from Fiji.
A person on a ship who possesses, transports, holds or handles drugs knowingly, where another person has illegally exported them from Fiji, would face the same penalties.
It would also be an offence to knowingly facilitate or prepare for the movement of drugs between ships where another person intends to export, or has already exported, the drugs from Fiji illegally.
The Bill provides a defence for people who can establish that they possessed or handled the drugs solely to prevent their use or dealing and, after becoming aware of the drugs, took reasonable steps to notify the ship’s person in charge.
If the person is in charge of the ship, they would be required to notify an appropriate company representative or the relevant government authority at the ship’s next intended port of arrival.
The Bill will be debated tomorrow.
