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Drug scam linked to visas
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Posted on Nov 03 2000
Suva (The Fiji Times/PINA Nius Online) – Police believe the recent Fiji heroin bust is linked to a migration scam involving illegal Asian immigrants.
A senior police official said the drug investigations were implicating individuals suspected of being involved in migration scams recently uncovered by authorities.
“We have extended our investigation to determine a link in the recent increase in Asian immigrants most of who have come in the country illegally to the recent heroin racket,” the official said.
Criminal Investigations Department director Emosi Vunisa confirmed that police had arrested two illegal Asian immigrants. However, Mr. Vunisa said police did not suspect the two had any links to the heroin bust. “We have handed them over to the Immigration Department to be deported back to China,” he said.
Acting Assistant Superintendent Sera Bernard said police were also trying to confirm whether or not a drug racket operated in Fiji. On Saturday police seized 300 kilograms of heroin with an approximate street value of $20 million.
The raid was carried out by officers from the Fiji Police Force and agents from the Australian Federal Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US Drug Enforcement Administration and New Zealand Police. A Chinese national from Hong Kong and another who has lived in Fiji for 10 years were arrested.
