General
Nearly 40kg of cocaine from Fiji court evidence stash replaced with flour
Almost 40 kilograms of cocaine seized as evidence in a major drug case on Fiji have gone missing, with 32 of the 39 blocks replaced by flour and seven others already lost. Police discovered the discrepancy at a courthouse in Suva on September 15 and launched an investigation into the drugs, which were confiscated in 2019 from a man later sentenced to 23 years in prison. While police have identified a suspect believed to be abroad, they are also examining those responsible for managing the evidence storage. Justice Minister promises that no one will be spared. The incident highlights strategic concerns regarding drug trafficking routes through the Pacific, where organized crime groups exploit remote waters and infiltrate legal businesses, prompting calls for enhanced regional cooperation as noted by the United Nations.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's