Nearly 40kg of Cocaine Held as Evidence at Fiji High Court Swapped for Flour

Fiji Police have confirmed that nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine kept as evidence in the Suva High Court exhibit room was swapped for flour, after forensic tests on the remaining exhibits all came back negative for illicit drugs.

The cocaine is worth about FJ$30 million, according to local media.

How the swap was discovered

The cocaine was seized in 2019. In 2021, the Suva High Court sentenced the defendant in that case to 20 years in prison for possession, while the 39 cocaine bars were kept as evidence at the Suva High Court Registry, Mixmag reported.

On 15 September 2026, an inspection found that seven of the 39 bars were missing entirely. Police opened an investigation and sent the remaining exhibits for forensic testing.

All of those tests came back negative. In a statement on Tuesday 29 September, Fiji Police said: "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," as reported by RNZ. Police added that one person of interest allegedly involved in the incident is currently out of the country and will be questioned.

Justice Minister Siromi Turaga told Parliament the case was "shocking". "No stone will be left unturned. Anyone found guilty will be held accountable," he said, and asked the public to "trust the process".

Fijian MP Jone Usamate called the replacement of the cocaine with flour a "sad indictment" and asked how anyone can now be sure that all the exhibits held at the court are actually there.

Latest: 51-year-old man charged

A 51-year-old man has been charged with one count of interfering with evidence and one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs, Fiji Village reported. He is the husband of a former Judicial Department employee, and is not the defendant convicted in the original 2021 case.

He appeared before a magistrate on the morning of 9 October 2026. The prosecution opposed bail, saying the matter is of national interest and investigations are still underway. Bail was not granted for now and will be considered again at his next appearance on 23 October.

The charges have not been tested in court. Investigations into the alleged involvement of other individuals are continuing.

Sources: Fiji Police via RNZ, Fiji Village, Mixmag