In a shocking development, over $10 million worth of cocaine, which was kept as evidence in a prolonged drug-trafficking trial in Fiji, has been replaced with flour. This incident highlights ongoing issues of corruption within Fijian authorities.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has reported that 32 kilograms of cocaine, linked to the trial of Joshua Aziz Rahman, a Fiji-Canadian national, has effectively gone missing from the Suva High Court. The police are currently investigating this serious incident.
Earlier this month, Fiji Village, a local media outlet, indicated that 7 kilograms of cocaine involved in the trial had been substituted with flour. Consequently, a total of 39 kilograms of cocaine is now unaccounted for. Depending on the purity of the drug, its potential street value could reach up to $15 million.
On Tuesday, the Fiji Police issued a statement indicating that forensic tests of the remaining exhibits returned negative results. They confirmed that the evidence had been tampered with and that the investigation is concentrating on individuals responsible for managing the exhibits at the High Court Registry. Authorities have also identified a person of interest who is currently abroad and will be questioned regarding the matter.
Aziz Rahman had been sentenced to 23 years in prison after his conviction in 2021. However, he later appealed his sentence and was released in February 2026. The public prosecutor subsequently appealed the ruling, successfully reinstating the conviction and returning Rahman to prison.
In Fiji, it is customary for evidence to remain in custody until the appeals process concludes. Authorities discovered the discrepancies in the cocaine when they prepared to destroy the evidence this month.
Fiji has increasingly become a focal point in the Pacific’s battle against transnational drug trafficking. An ABC investigation earlier this year revealed Australian connections in the transportation of illegal drugs through the nation.
This latest incident follows the disbandment of Fiji’s narcotics bureau by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last year, after 27 officers were prosecuted for drug-related offenses over the preceding three years.
While the specific individuals responsible for the management of the missing cocaine remain unknown, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Fiji has stated that the responsibility for the storage and security of drugs lies with the police.
Earlier this year, Fiji Police Assistant Commissioner Mesake Waqa asserted that the police force is not corrupt, acknowledging that corruption has been a persistent challenge. He emphasized their commitment to transparency and thorough investigations of any reported misconduct.
