Police in Fiji have launched an urgent investigation into the disappearance of a large quantity of cocaine from a secure court evidence vault in Suva, the capital. The 39 parcels of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogramme, were seized during a drug raid in 2019. Seven of the parcels were found missing, prompting fresh forensic examinations on the remaining parcels. The tests revealed that none of the remaining packages contained traces of cocaine.
The discovery was made after investigators found that the seven missing cocaine bricks had been replaced with ordinary baking flour. The scandal raises serious questions about how the drugs were removed, when the evidence was tampered with, and who had access to the vault where the exhibits were stored. The incident has sparked concerns about the security of evidence storage in Fiji's courts.
Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confirmed the findings, saying the discovery of the missing parcels and evidence tampering led authorities to test the remaining exhibits. The original forensic examinations carried out after the 2019 seizure had established that the parcels contained cocaine. Tudravu stressed that the police were treating the matter with urgency and responding to concerns raised by the government.
The Commissioner gave assurance that the police are tackling the investigation with utmost urgency, but did not disclose whether any suspects had been identified or whether anyone had been arrested in connection with the disappearance. The incident comes as Fiji and other Pacific island nations battle expanding international drug trafficking, with the region increasingly used as a transit corridor for cocaine and methamphetamine moving from Latin America towards Australia.
The disappearance of the cocaine has raised concerns about the integrity of Fiji's justice system and the security of evidence storage in the country's courts. The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine how the tampering occurred and who was responsible. The incident has sparked a renewed focus on the need for secure evidence storage and handling procedures in Fiji.
Fiji's government has expressed concern over the incident, with the police commissioner assuring that the investigation is being treated with urgency. The incident highlights the challenges faced by Pacific island nations in combating international drug trafficking and the need for robust evidence handling and storage procedures. The police are working to restore public trust in the justice system.
The investigation into the disappearance of the cocaine is ongoing, with the Fiji Police Force working to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of secure evidence handling and storage procedures in ensuring the integrity of the justice system.
Key points
- Seven of 39 cocaine bricks seized in 2019 disappeared from a secure court evidence vault in Suva, Fiji.
- The missing cocaine was replaced with ordinary baking flour, according to forensic test results.
- The Fiji Police Force is investigating the incident and working to identify those responsible.
