Fiji seems to have shifted its perspective on the region’s illicit drug trafficking, moving from viewing it as a distant threat to being directly in the midst of it. To being right in the middle of it. Officials described alarming statistics about drug trafficking through Fiji at this week’s Pacific Peace and Security Dialogue in Suva: Recently, over the last three years, 4.5 metric tonnes of methamphetamine (valued at approximately $3.6 billion on the street) were intercepted by law enforcement, as well as one 4.1 metric tonne meth seizure, one 2.6 metric tonne cocaine seizure in January, and 26.5 metric tonnes of cannabis worth $197 million. Law enforcement also recently conducted a cooperative operation between the military and police and was able to eradicate over 74,000 marijuana plants in Fiji’s northern interior in a three-month period.
There are two main concerns regarding the pandemic. First of all, there are concerns about how severe the pandemic is and what its long-term effects will be. Secondly, it’s not just about border enforcement anymore.
In a recent interview, Berenando Daveta, Permanent Secretary for Policing in Fiji, stated that the Fijian government has identified this issue as a national security threat. Many regional leaders have also stated that organised crime syndicates have infiltrated communities and cities throughout the Pacific.
According to Palau’s Minister of Justice, Jennifer Olegeriil, the Pacific is not simply a transitory route for drugs being transported from Asia to larger markets in Australia and New Zealand; rather, the Pacific islands are increasingly a target for drugs as opposed to being just a transit point.
In addition to crime-related statistics, the effects of the current outbreaks extend to all levels of the government, including healthcare. In January 2025 a national outbreak of HIV was declared in Fiji with nearly 2000 newly diagnosed cases, a 27% increase from the previous year and also larger than any previous year. In 2023, there were 415 confirmed cases, and given the many people who share syringes to inject drugs, there are likely more people now diagnosed with HIV as a result of injecting drugs. This illustrates how the illegal drug trade can quickly turn into a serious public health problem as well as a matter for law enforcement.
What comes out of Suva is very clear – the drug war in the Pacific Islands has gone from something that could be dreamed up to a reality. Criminal organisations and networks are now working together across international borders, requiring governments in the region to react quickly, share information, and collaborate at levels that have not been seen before. In this new environment, there are two consequences of experiencing delays — disproportionate costs and increased risk of harm to the community.
