Cocaine Mystery Rocks Fiji As Nearly 40kg Of Seized Drugs Disappears From Court

Police in Fiji have launched an investigation after nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine kept as evidence in a major drug case disappeared from a courthouse, with the remaining exhibits allegedly replaced with flour and other counterfeit substances.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the cocaine, estimated to be worth about 30 million Fijian dollars (approximately US$13.3 million), was seized in 2019 in a case involving Fiji-Canadian national Joshua Rahman, who was convicted of unlawful possession, according to official records.

The seized drugs had remained in storage at the Suva High Court while legal appeals in the case were being considered. However, during an inspection on September 15, authorities discovered that seven of the 39 cocaine bars were missing.

Further examination reportedly revealed that the remaining exhibits had also been tampered with and replaced with substances that were not cocaine. Police said forensic tests conducted on the remaining exhibits returned negative results, indicating that none of the originally seized cocaine remained.

Authorities said the investigation is currently focused on individuals responsible for managing and safeguarding exhibits at the High Court Registry.

Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said the cocaine was placed inside the High Court vault in March 2021, although investigators have not established exactly when the alleged theft occurred. He noted that previous testing conducted in 2019 had confirmed that the exhibits were cocaine.

Police have identified six persons of interest who work within the judiciary and were believed to have had access to the vault, according to Commissioner Tudravu. One of the individuals was reportedly outside the country at the time of the investigation.

Authorities have also begun checking other exhibits stored at the courthouse, including seized cash, as part of efforts to determine whether other items may have been compromised.

The disappearance has raised concerns over security within Fiji’s judicial system and triggered reactions from politicians and members of the public.

Opposition politician Jone Usamate described the replacement of the cocaine with flour as a serious failure by those responsible for managing the evidence. He also questioned whether the authenticity of other exhibits held in the court could now be guaranteed.

Justice Minister Siromi Turaga expressed disappointment and shock over the incident, saying authorities were working to strengthen security measures and review existing procedures governing the storage and management of exhibits at the High Court.