Fiji police and customs officers among those charged in meth smuggling attempt
Photo:
RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Two police officers, a senior manager at the Fiji customs office and a foreign national are among seven people who have been charged so far with allegedly attempting to smuggle four kilograms of methamphetamine into the country.
Border officials seized the drugs, which were concealed in airfreight, at Nadi International Airport during a joint operation between the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).
In a joint statement on 19 May, the two organisations said that they had "successfully disrupted a significant attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into the country".
"The interception took place after FRCS Customs Officers identified irregularities during screening of an airfreight consignment from a Southeast African nation. A thorough inspection uncovered several packets concealing over 4 kilograms of methamphetamine."
Authorities are continuing investigations into what they believe may be a wider criminal network, the statement added.
The two police officers who were charged are based at the Counter Narcotics Bureau, which was endorsed by Cabinet in July last year as an independent unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu
Photo:
Screengrab/Fiji Police Force
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu and Minister for Police Ioane Naivalarua told reporters that the bureau needs to undergo an urgent review.
Tudravu told fijivillage.com that they are considering a new structure as well as readvertising positions within the bureau.
Meanwhile, the FRCS border manager was denied bail by the Magistrates Court on Monday.
The case has been adjourned to next Tuesday and transferred to the High Court.
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