Drug cartels’ ‘pocket change’ can corrupt Fiji, expert warns

Drug cartels deploying million-dollar narco-submarines can afford to corrupt Fiji’s law enforcement with what amounts to “pocket change”, a logistics expert has warned.

MSG Logistics chief executive Amit Chand made the comments during a counter-narcotics consultation hosted by the Ministry of Policing at the Suva Civic Centre yesterday.

Mr Chand said the biggest threat to Fiji’s counter-drug efforts was placing the wrong people in sensitive positions within the proposed Counter Narcotics Bureau.

“A small country like Fiji, where the cartels are deploying narco-subs that require millions of dollars to launch, corrupting a few key individuals in right places, that is pocket change for them,” Mr Chand said.

MSG Logistics chief executive Amit Chand during consultation on the counter narcotics bill on February 9, 2026.

Photo: Kaneta Naimatau

He warned that a single compromised officer with access to intelligence could dismantle entire operations.

“When the first domino falls, it triggers a chain of reality. Operations fail, public trust collapses, honest officers’ work is neutralized, and cartels gain near impunity,” he said.

Mr Chand, who has worked with intelligence agencies, called for mandatory random polygraph testing for all Counter Narcotics Bureau officers.

Other recommendations raised at the forum included lifestyle audits for intelligence officers to detect corruption, joint operations involving Customs, the Navy and military intelligence, reforms to make serious drug offences non-bailable, stronger international partnerships focused on anti-corruption capacity building, and independent oversight of narcotics operations.

“Unless the domino effect is prevented at source, no bills, no law is adequate enough to do what this country is facing,” Mr Chand said.

The consultation continues today in Nausori.

Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said the counter-narcotics bill is expected to be presented to Cabinet by March.

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