Police in Fiji are investigating the theft of nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of cocaine that had been held as evidence in a major drug case, with much of the missing substance allegedly replaced with flour.
The cocaine, valued at about 30 million Fijian dollars ($13.3 million), was seized in 2019 in a case involving Fiji-Canadian national Joshua Rahman, who was convicted of unlawful possession, according to official records.
The confiscated drugs were stored at the Suva High Court while appeals in the case were being considered. However, during an inspection on September 15, officials discovered that seven of the 39 bars of cocaine were missing.
A subsequent investigation found that the remaining exhibits had also been tampered with and replaced with counterfeit substances. Police said none of the originally seized cocaine remained.
“Forensic tests conducted on the remaining drug exhibits have all returned negative,” police said in a statement on Tuesday. “The exhibits were all tampered with, and the investigation is focused on those directly charged with the management of the exhibits at the High Court Registry.”
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said the cocaine had been placed in the High Court vault in March 2021, although investigators had yet to establish when the theft occurred. The exhibits had previously been confirmed as cocaine through testing in 2019.
Tudravu said police had identified six persons of interest who work within the judiciary and would have had access to the vault. One of them was reportedly outside the country.
Authorities are also checking other exhibits stored at the court, including seized cash, as part of the investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about security within Fiji’s judicial system and prompted criticism from members of the public and lawmakers.
“The replacement of the cocaine with flour, whatever it is, that is a sad indictment of whoever is responsible,” opposition politician Jone Usamate said in Parliament. “How do you know now that what is in all those exhibits is really what is claimed to be in the exhibits?”
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga expressed disappointment and shock over the incident, saying authorities were working to strengthen security and review existing procedures at the High Court.
