Suspected drug containers found floating near Ogea Island

Police are investigating the discovery of suspected illicit drugs after sealed containers allegedly containing a white substance were found floating near Ogea Island in Lau on Friday night.

This marks the second time in eight years that illicit drugs have been recovered in similar circumstances in the same area.

In July 2018, nine bars of cocaine were found floating near Ogea Island.

Sealed containers found floating near Ogea Island.

Fiji is a trafficking route and the latest find points to the vast open waters and poor surveillance.

The Fiji Police Force confirmed the find and said the white substances recovered have been sent for laboratory testing.  Authorities are now trying to establish how the containers ended up drifting  near the remote island.

Ogea Island is a small and isolated community in Fiji’s eastern maritime zone, heavily dependent on fishing and the sea for its livelihood.

Its location along open ocean routes make it vulnerable to debris carried by long-distance currents.

Local divers discovered the containers while out fishing. One of them, Ilaitia Mocelutu, was among the first to notice the drifting packages.

Sealed packages found floating near Ogea Island.

His brother, Vunivola, said the group immediately suspected something was wrong and alerted authorities.

He said it was not the first time such items had been seen in the area.

“This is the second time we have witnessed such packages floating near our waters, but what we found on Friday was a much larger quantity,” he said.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wame Bautolu confirmed the discovery and said investigations are continuing.

Authorities are also examining wider Pacific trafficking patterns, with intelligence warnings that transnational drug networks are increasingly using ocean routes passing near Fiji to move illicit drugs towards Australia and New Zealand, using Narco-submersibles.

Investigations continue.

TUI NAYAU

In a statement, the Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, Tui Lau, Ratu Tevita Lutunauga Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara, described the discovery of suspected illicit drugs in Lau waters as a matter of grave concern.

“The recent discovery of illicit drugs washed ashore at Moce and Moala is a matter of grave concern to the people of Lau,” he said.

“These findings confirm that drug smuggling through our waters is alive and active, and that such cargoes continuing to reach our shores is a clear indication that our present responses are not effective enough to meet the scale of the threat.”

Ratu Tevita said the issue required a partnership between communities and authorities.

“The wellbeing of our communities and the future of our young people depend upon it, and the vanua stands ready to play its part. We ask only that we be properly equipped to do so.”

He called for a review of village by-laws and additional resources for maritime communities, including boats, communication equipment, fuel and support for village constabularies.

“With these tools, our people can become a meaningful first line of vigilance and support to the national effort.”

Ratu Tevita also proposed the establishment of a coast guard presence in Fiji's maritime zones and littoral waters, saying greater offshore monitoring was needed to stop drugs before they reached communities.

“The sea has long sustained our people, and we are determined that it should not become a means of harm to future generations. It must not be allowed to deliver poison to our children.”

“We stand ready to assist, and we ask in turn to be given the means to do so.”