New forensic labs planned in Nadi and Suva after gang-linked transit case

Fiji is setting up document forensic laboratories in Nadi and Suva for the first time, Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto confirmed yesterday.

These laboratories are specialist units that detect fake passports and forged travel documents.

This comes after two Samoan nationals suspected of killing a Sydney gang leader transited through Nadi International Airport on their way to commit the murder in Vietnam.

Joseph Vaa, 27, and Steve Tofa, 23 — who entered Vietnam using fake Australian passports and false names — passed through Fiji before fatally shooting suspected Coconut Cartel ringleader Lorenzo Lemalu Tovia outside a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21.

Mr Naupoto confirmed the two men transited through Nadi but said it was not clear whether the fake passports were used in Fiji or only in Vietnam.

“We did not pick up those passports — we’re not too sure whether those ones were the fake ones or if they used the fake passports in Vietnam,” he told the Fiji Sun.

“We have measures in place — we have a document forensic lab. For the first time, we're establishing one in Nadi and also one in Suva, and that is aimed at trying to detect fraudulent documents.”

Ministry of Immigration permanent secretary Aliki Salusalu said the ministry was still working to confirm the men's full travel history under Mr Naupoto's instruction.

The Coconut Cartel is a Sydney-based criminal network with links to the Alameddine crime gang — the same network connected to the $2 billion methamphetamine seizure in Nadi in 2024.