Fiji’s role as a middleman in the international narcotics trade was a key topic during the Counter Narcotics Bill public consultation held at Tavualevu Village in Tavua on February 13.
Village representative Emosi Vueti raised concerns about border security, asking officials to pinpoint how illicit substances entered the country.
“What door are they using to come to Fiji from overseas. Whose duty is it to oversee this?” he asked.
“Many are talking about harsher penalties and crowded prisons; something must be done to address this.”
Inspector Jemesa Lave explained that Fiji was strategically positioned between major drug-producing regions and lucrative markets.
“There are people who make drugs, these are called drug cartels,” he said. “Before, we would watch movies regarding Mexican drug cartels, Colombian drug cartels… these are the ones that make drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.”
He highlighted recent arrests in Vatia, Tavua involving Ecuadorian nationals as evidence of South American cartel activity.
“In business terms, we call it supply and demand. Fiji is sitting amid the suppliers and users.”
He acknowledged policing the nation’s 1.3 million square kilometre maritime zone remained a logistical challenge.
Consultant Biu Matavou noted that local facilitators profited from small portions of shipments, feeding domestic drug availability.
