Authorities test 'single drop' theory in Lau drug discoveries

Authorities are investigating whether multiple packages of suspected drugs found in Lau waters originated from a single offshore drop or several dumping points.

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division is analysing ocean drift patterns and increasing patrols across the eastern islands.

Navy Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva said joint efforts with the Fiji Police Force were intensifying to determine the source of the discoveries.

“We are working with Police with regards to the find, in terms of ascertaining whether this was a single drop or multiple drops,” Commodore Natuva said.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed several people were in custody assisting investigators after 25 packages of suspected drugs were found near Ogea Island last Friday.

The discovery is the latest in a series of similar finds in the Lau Group, raising concerns about Fiji’s maritime border security and exposure to international drug trafficking routes.

Commodore Natuva said the Navy was examining drift patterns and packaging to determine how the packages reached shore, while Police officers from Lakeba Police Station had been deployed to key locations.

Fiji Navy Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva.

Photo: Ronald Kumar

Patrols intensified

Naval operations are being expanded, with increased patrols planned as yacht traffic rises during the yachting season.

“We have to increase our presence out in the islands,” Commodore Natuva said.

He said joint maritime patrols involving Police and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service would also be strengthened.

Authorities are monitoring yacht movements in the Lau Group through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and working with Customs and Immigration officials to verify vessel clearances.

Physical patrols will complement electronic monitoring across Fiji’s vast maritime zone.

The latest seizure follows earlier discoveries of suspected cocaine parcels along Lau coastlines and offshore waters.

In a separate incident on May 30, a woman and her daughter found a parcel containing a white substance on an island in Lau and handed it to Police for testing.

The Lau Group’s proximity to Tonga has heightened concerns among residents, who say increased yacht traffic through remote waters may be facilitating trafficking activities.

Resource challenges

Commodore Natuva acknowledged the challenge of policing Fiji’s vast maritime territory, citing limited assets and rising fuel costs.

“Our waters are vast. We may be operating in one area and something appears on the other side,” he said.

Despite those constraints, he said agencies continued to work with regional partners to maintain surveillance and patrol coverage.

Lakeba villager Raivalita Uluilakeba called for tighter controls, urging authorities to require all vessels entering Fiji waters to use AIS for real-time tracking.

Communities in the Lau Group continue to play a critical role in reporting suspicious activity as investigations into the Ogea Island discovery continue.