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Fiji Police Confirm Cocaine Exhibit Swapped With Flour

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 11:11 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Fiji Police Swap Cocaine

Fiji Police say 39 kg of cocaine was swapped with flour at Suva High Court.
The cocaine was originally seized from Fiji-Canadian Joshua Aziz Rahman in 2019.
Forensic tests on the remaining 32 bars returned negative confirming the replacement.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu launched a court-exhibit audit and named six suspects.
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga said offenders will face full law enforcement.

Summary

Turaga Urges Trust

Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga urged Fijians to keep trusting the justice system despite exhibit tampering.
Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said a system must be put in place to prevent future exhibit loss.
The exhibit room was relocated and now has CCTV cameras and grille bars installed.
Police recorded statements from 27 people while a six-person investigative team includes digital-forensic and anti-money-laundering units.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime began the Pacific Narcotics Initiative, targeting Fiji’s cocaine routes and achieving twelve major seizures. The Australian Federal Police reported confiscating 45 kg of cocaine that year, linking the shipment to a Melbourne syndicate led by John Smith. Now, Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confronts a scandal after 39 kg of cocaine linked to Joshua Aziz Rahman was swapped with flour. The incident spurs comprehensive security reforms, echoing 1995’s regional anti-drug drive and signaling Fiji’s commitment to preserve judicial integrity for future prosecutions.

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Fiji Police Swap Cocaine

Fiji Police say 39 kg of cocaine was swapped with flour at Suva High Court.
The cocaine was originally seized from Fiji-Canadian Joshua Aziz Rahman in 2019.
Forensic tests on the remaining 32 bars returned negative confirming the replacement.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu launched a court-exhibit audit and named six suspects.
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga said offenders will face full law enforcement.

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