Fiji's Defense Minister Pio Tikoduadua confirmed this week that global organized crime groups, including South American cartels and Asian triads, now traffic drugs through the island nation. These syndicates are increasingly arming themselves, a threat underscored by recent attempted armory raids and a death in military custody.
The growing threat was evident in two attempted raids on Republic of Fiji Military Forces armories last month. These incidents led to the detention of drug suspect Jone Vakirisi, who subsequently died in army custody. Mr. Tikoduadua stated these events indicated the seriousness of these narcotics syndicates, noting that such groups operate with arms and ammunition to protect their operations.
South American cartels currently operate in Fiji alongside Asian triads and Fijian-born members of the Australian street gang KVT. Some ex-soldiers have joined organized crime groups, according to Mr. Tikoduadua. He did not specify numbers, but acknowledged that some former service members work for these syndicates. "If one goes on to work against the very security that they are supposed to hold, then they become enemies of the state," the minister said.
Mr. Tikoduadua declined to comment on the investigation into Mr. Vakirisi's death. The Fiji Police Force announced it is investigating the death as a murder. A separate, ongoing military investigation targets at least one soldier for alleged involvement in the attempted armory raids.
Allegations of police and military corruption, abuse of office, and active collusion in the drug trade have been made repeatedly in recent years. Late last year, social media leaks circulated alleged conversations between police officers and criminals. These messages appeared to show senior anti-narcotic officers conspiring with a drug kingpin to sabotage raids, plant evidence, move weapons and drugs, and plan to murder a possible informant. Police later confirmed an investigation into the messages had concluded and been referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for independent legal advice.
"There is great concern that service personnel, both blue and green, have been compromised," said Mr. Tikoduadua, who oversaw the police as home affairs minister from 2022 to 2024. He referred to the uniform colors of police officers and soldiers, respectively.
Corruption concerns have intensified alongside reports of significant drug flows through Fiji, a nation of just under one million people. In 2024, Fijian authorities intercepted 4.5 metric tons of methamphetamines in the tourist resort town of Nadi. These drugs were reportedly supplied by Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and intended for a known criminal network in Australia. In January, 2.6 metric tons of cocaine were intercepted at a wharf on the northern coast of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu. The drugs were reportedly unloaded from a "narco sub." Police arrested 16 people, including four Ecuadorians who told a Fijian court they had been coerced into the operation by a South American cartel.
Mr. Tikoduadua maintains that the situation is not beyond repair. "There is only a few rotten eggs," he said. "The solution is to pluck them out, put the eggs back in the basket and take them to the market."