Fiji has seen a four-fold increase in drug-related crime over the past decades.
A new rapid assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed a sharp rise in drug-related crimes in Fiji over the past 10 years.
The report, focusing on injecting drug use and HIV in Suva, draws on data from the Fiji Police Force.
According to the report, the number of registered drug-related cases in Fiji increased from 479 in 2015 to 2035 in 2024 — a four-fold rise.
While overall offences are largely cannabis-related, methamphetamine (MA) cases surged more than 36-fold during the same period, accounting for 18 per cent of all cases last year.
“Unlawful possession of drugs continues to make up the overwhelming majority of cases, representing 95 per cent of all registered offences in 2024,” the report noted.
The decline in cases during 2021 and 2022 was attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns disrupting drug trafficking.
The data also showed that offenders are predominantly young and male, with two-thirds aged 18 to 35 and 95 per cent male.
iTaukei individuals accounted for 70 per cent to 82 per cent of offenders, slightly higher than their national population share.
“The Western Division has consistently recorded the highest proportion of drug-related offences, making up 42 per cent of cases in 2024, followed by the Central Division at 28 per cent,” the WHO report said.
The assessment highlights the need for continued monitoring of drug trends, alongside interventions targeting high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs, to curb both drug-related crime and associated health risks such as HIV.
WHO experts say these findings provide crucial evidence to guide public health strategies and law enforcement priorities.
