Authorities in Fiji are investigating the disappearance of 39 kilograms of cocaine from the Suva High Court, where the drugs were held as evidence in a drug-trafficking trial. The illicit substance, valued at up to $15 million depending on purity, was discovered missing during a scheduled destruction process earlier this month. Forensic testing confirmed that the substances remaining in the exhibits had been replaced with flour.
Evidence Tampering in the Joshua Aziz Rahman Case
The missing cocaine was central to the long-running trial of Fiji-Canadian national Joshua Aziz Rahman. Rahman was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. Following a complex legal timeline, he briefly walked free in February 2026 after a successful appeal, only to have his conviction reinstated after an appeal by the public prosecutor. In Fiji, evidence typically remains in court custody until the full appeal process concludes. Initial reports from Fiji Village indicated that 7 kilograms were missing, but subsequent investigations revealed that the entire 39-kilogram cache had been tampered with and replaced with flour.
Fiji Police Investigation and Personnel Oversight
Fiji Police have confirmed that forensic tests on the remaining exhibits returned negative results for cocaine. According to an official statement, the investigation is currently focused on individuals responsible for managing exhibits at the High Court Registry. Authorities have identified a “person of interest” who is currently overseas and expected to be questioned. While the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions maintains that the storage and security of evidence is a police matter, the force has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding internal corruption. Assistant Commissioner Mesake Waqa stated earlier this year that while the force is “not a corrupt institution,” it has struggled with officers who have “crossed the line.”
Drug Trafficking Challenges in the Pacific
The theft of court evidence occurs against a backdrop of increasing drug-related activity in the region. Fiji has been identified as a transit point for transnational drug trafficking, with recent incidents including 27 bricks of cocaine washing up on the shores of the remote Komo Island. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka dissolved the country’s narcotics bureau last year following the prosecution of 27 officers for drug-related offenses over a three-year period.
Investigation into missing cocaine evidence from court
- How much cocaine is missing from the Suva High Court?
- A total of 39 kilograms of cocaine, which served as evidence in the Joshua Aziz Rahman trial, is unaccounted for.
- What was the cocaine replaced with?
- Authorities discovered that the cocaine bricks had been replaced with flour.
- Who is responsible for the missing evidence?
- Fiji Police are conducting an investigation focused on staff at the High Court Registry. A person of interest, currently located overseas, is expected to be questioned.
- What is the estimated street value of the missing drugs?
- Depending on the purity of the cocaine, the street value is estimated to be as high as $15 million.