Almost a million tourists come to Fiji every year. But behind the sun and sand, there's a dark side to the islands, with cartels using Fiji to import drugs into lucrative markets — a drug problem that has now spread into communities.
Cartels' trafficking of crystal meth through 'Pacific drug highway' sees addiction spread to Fiji's villagesAs the "head man" of his home on the outskirts of Lautoka, just north of Fiji's tourist hub of Nadi, he checks in visitors and makes sure his community is clean and tidy."We found the needle only one or two metres from the village," Mr Ravouvou told the ABC.Mr Ravouvou is not alone.
In one of the biggest drug busts the world has seen, a staggering 5.25 tonnes of methamphetamine was found in two Fijian homes, both just a five-minute drive from Nadi International Airport.This is less than a quarter of the meth stash seized by Fiji Police. The ABC understands prosecutors are investigating the links of those involved to cartels across the world, because the product was due to be smuggled into the Australian market after being taken onto Fiji soil via an on-water barge.For the head of Fiji's navy, Commodore Humphrey Tawake, the bust is just a drop in the ocean of what he suspects is rampant activity in the waters of the Pacific.
Later, on a walk around Suva's waterfront, she points another two regular hangouts for users — both out in the open and both just metres from the CBD.Aporosa Lutunauga, the Fiji Police Force assistant commissioner, says there has been a big change over the past decade."Now we have a big challenge to fight this new menace that is with us, and that is the white drugs.
Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Pacific Drug Superhighway Pacific Drug Trafficking Drug Imports Fiji Drugs
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