Tikoduadua: Brigadier-General Gadai must follow process

Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua has hit back at Brigadier-General Manoa Gadai’s comments on the alleged involvement of Police officers in the illegal drug trade, urging him to follow the proper process.

“I am aware that Brigadier-General Gadai is interested in the position of the head of the anti-narcotics bureau. For one to become the head  there is a process  through the line ministry.

“In this case, it’s the Ministry of Policing. He is welcome to apply like any other interested candidate,” Mr Tikoduadua said yesterday.

Brigadier-General Gadai expressed his interest through a chain of emails from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Blackrock Camp in Nadi, where he is stationed, following allegations of Police officers’ involvement in the illegal drug trade.

This masthead has established that Brigadier-General Gadai’s comments are not associated with the views of the RFMF.

However, he responded to the chain email in his official capacity.

“Is this actually happening,” he wrote.

“I’m happy to assist or even lead our inter-agency joint drugs operation from Blackrock Camp! After all there is, there is a war against drugs in Fiji, as highlighted by our parliamentarians in Suva late last year? Provided there is a clear and unambiguous amended drugs law  passed in Parliament. “Shocking indeed.”

Mr Tikoduadua said the anti-narcotics bureau was under the responsibility of the Ministry of Policing and not the RFMF.

“The anti-narcotics bureau and the Police are independent of the RFMF. There are areas of national security where we complement each other including the war on drugs. The onus is on the Police to ask for RFMF support.”

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu declined to directly respond to questions about the statement by Brigadier-General Gadai.

“Out of respect for the Commander, I am not in a position to comment on the correspondence. As members of the disciplined forces, we respect the chain of command,” he said.

Several Viber message screenshots implicating Police officers were sent to Mr Tudravu, and to Minister for Policing, Ioane Naivalurua, last week.

In an official statement yesterday, Mr Tudravu said they were investigating seven Police officers allegedly involved in colluding with an individual linked to the drug trade.

However, new Viber screenshots have emerged alleging involvement of more than seven officers.

“Analysis conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department on the social media posts has allegedly implicated seven officers, and all their phones have been seized for digital forensic analysis,” he said.

Fiji Police Force foreign law-enforcement partners the Australian Federal Police and the New Zealand Police have been asked to assist in the investigation as the origin of the Viber messages is from an individual residing overseas.

Forty-seven Police officers were charged with drug-related offences between 2020 and 2025.