Probe Launched After $10 Million Cocaine Haul Vanishes From Fiji Court

A major investigation is underway in Fiji after a cocaine haul valued at up to $10 million disappeared from a court, with authorities suspecting it was replaced with flour. The discovery was reportedly made when officials were preparing to destroy the cocaine, which had been held as evidence in a long-running drug trafficking case.

Initially, seven of the 39 cocaine bars were reported missing. Subsequent forensic tests revealed that the remaining exhibits had also been tampered with, leading to the conclusion that approximately 32kg of the substance was replaced with flour. In total, 39kg of cocaine, potentially worth up to $15 million, is now unaccounted for.

The confiscated cocaine was central to the case against Joshua Aziz Rahman, a Fiji-Canadian national. Rahman was convicted of drug trafficking in 2021 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. He was later released in February 2026 following a successful appeal, but returned to jail after prosecutors challenged the appeal ruling. The cocaine remained in court storage throughout the appeals process.

Fiji Police confirmed that forensic tests on the remaining exhibits returned negative results for illicit drugs. In a statement, they indicated that the investigation is focusing on individuals responsible for the management of exhibits at the High Court Registry. A person of interest allegedly involved in the incident is reportedly overseas and is expected to be questioned.

Fiji's Minister of Justice, Siromi Turaga, described the disappearance of the drugs as "shocking" and pledged that "no stone will be left unturned." Opposition MP Jone Usamate expressed concern over the security of the Suva High Court, stating that the replacement of cocaine with flour raises doubts about the integrity of other exhibits held there.

The incident occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny of alleged corruption within Fiji's police force. Last year, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka ordered the disbandment of the country's Counter Narcotics Bureau, returning its functions to the police amid drug-related allegations involving officers. Reports indicate that 27 Fijian police officers had faced court proceedings for drug-related offenses in the three years prior to this incident.

Fiji Police Assistant Commissioner Mesake Waqa had previously acknowledged challenges with corruption within the force but asserted transparency in investigations. "We have officers who have crossed the line, and we have been transparent about it; in every case that is reported to us, we will investigate it," he told the ABC earlier this year.