Fiji meth bust. Photo: Fiji Police
Fiji police will be "vaporising" more than four tonnes of methamphetamine seized during one of the biggest drug busts in the country on Monday.
In late January 2024, Fijian authorities raided a vacant house under construction in the tourist down of Nadi, seizing about 800 medium-sized containers wrapped in brown tape, which contained meth, locally known as "ice", with a street value of F$2 billion.
Since then, 15 people have been charged and all are currently on bail.
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In a statement on Monday, the assistant police chief (crime) Mesake Waqa said the "destruction process" is being carried out in line with a High Court order made on 13 December 2024.
The meth will be destroyed "by way of vaporising in a furnace, a destruction method practiced by law enforcement globally" at the Dignified Crematorium in Davuilevu, about 15 minutes drive from the capital, Suva.
"Thorough consultations with stakeholders and clearance from relevant authorities have ensured the disposal process is in accordance with best practices, taking into consideration the health and environmental concerns associated with the destruction of the high volume of illicit drugs," Waqa said.
He said the execution of the destruction process has been planned to ensure transparency, safeguarding the integrity of the police.
"In accordance with the Court Order, subject to security protocols, Legal Counsels of the Respondents are allowed to observe the destruction process. At the end of the destruction process, full details will be released to the public for transparency and accountability."
Police said the stakeholders involved in the process include the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Policing, Minstry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Environment, Fiji Military Forces, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Australian Federal Police, New Zealand Police, Energy Fiji Limited, Dignified Crematorium, International Observers, and the Nausori Town Council.
