Fiji

People

Human trafficking in Fiji is characterized by extensive markets for sex trafficking and forced labour. Because of Fiji’s patriarchal family structure and the occasional physical violence used to reinforce male dominance, prostitution is a viable option for girls to provide income for their families. The latter frequently act as both facilitators and offenders, but tourists, businessmen and the crew of foreign fishing vessels are also involved. Girls are exploited in individual and organized operations (brothels posing as motels or massage parlours), but boys are forced into prostitution as well. Worryingly, the average age of child victims of sexual exploitation is decreasing. The primary victims of forced labour, on the other hand, are adults, who are exploited in agriculture and construction, mostly in New Zealand and Australia. Fiji’s porous borders and lax visa requirements have rendered the country a key transit point for trafficked workers from Eastern and South-eastern Asia. In addition, foreign actors, primarily Chinese organized crime groups, traffic victims from China, the Philippines and Thailand into Fiji to be exploited in brothels.

There have been comparatively few people smuggling cases, but Fiji appears to be a preferred transit point in the region for irregular migrants looking to enter the US. This is again a result of the country’s lax visa requirements, along with Fiji providing the only air-link connectivity across the region. Profits are probably accrued to foreign actors, who organize human smuggling channels in countries of origin.

Trade

While Fiji is a strategic location in the Pacific region and a hub for other illicit markets, there is no evidence of shipments of illicit weapons systematically transiting the country. Gun ownership in Fiji is low, and arms trafficking does not seem to be an issue. Seizures of arms have occurred on vessels in Fijian waters. However, weapons are usually intended for personal protection at sea rather than being stockpiled for further distribution, and there is no evidence of any pervasive organized-crime involvement.

Environment

Fiji’s forest area has been steadily increasing since 1990, which suggests that illegal logging is not commercialized. It does, however, take place on a small scale, mainly for local and domestic use. Fiji is home to a number of endemic fauna species, making it vulnerable to wildlife trafficking. Foreign loose criminal networks and individual traders organize the trade in endangered species in the Pacific region, including Fiji. Corruption among officials largely enables the flow of illegal wildlife across the country’s borders. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is also an issue that the country has to manage. Locals rely heavily on fishery resources for food and income and are involved in inshore and coastal IUU fishing. Quantifying the extent of the criminal market, however, is difficult. The extraction of natural resources, especially sand, has been signalled as an issue in Fiji, although there is no evidence to suggest the involvement of large organized crime structures.

Drugs

The drugs markets in Fiji, particularly for cocaine, cannabis and synthetic drugs, are the most pervasive criminal markets in the country. Since 2014, Fiji's importance as a transit hub for cocaine has grown considerably because of its location between source countries in Latin America and destination markets in Australia and New Zealand. Similarly, Fiji’s significance as a transit point for synthetic drugs and precursors has evolved over time. The country has faced the challenges of a growing domestic market for cocaine and synthetic drugs in recent years, with arrests related to the latter increasing almost tenfold from 2009 to 2018. The expansion of the domestic drug markets has led to an increase in gang violence. Unlike international cocaine trafficking, where foreign actors dominate the trade, Fijian nationals control the domestic market. As far as the production and export of synthetic drugs go, both foreign nationals and Fijians appear to be involved, although methamphetamine is also brought in from abroad.

With cannabis becoming more readily available in Fiji since the first post-coup elections in 2014, there is now a well-established market for this drug. Along with Papua New Guinea, Fiji is considered one of the biggest producers of cannabis in the Pacific, but, generally speaking, cannabis grown in the country is used to supply domestic demand. Meanwhile, Oceania’s role as a transit hub for heroin is reportedly in decline, which, combined with lack of demand for heroin in the country, would suggest that the heroin market in Fiji is virtually non-existent.

Cyber Crimes

*This indicator was first included in the 2023 iteration of the tool

Financial Crimes

*This indicator was first included in the 2023 iteration of the tool

Criminal Actors

Criminal networks are the most widespread criminal-actor type in Fiji. Such groups are involved primarily in drug trafficking, particularly cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis, but human trafficking as well. Criminal networks have links to foreign groups, particularly in the cocaine trade, where the latter pay Fijian groups in cocaine, which is used to feed the domestic market. Small criminal networks are organized on an ad hoc basis to carry out street robberies, burglaries and pickpocketing, especially in towns popular with tourists. Recently, outlaw motorcycle gangs with roots in Australia seem to have gained a foothold in Fiji, becoming more involved in the drug markets. The influence of Chinese mafia-style groups in Fiji has been in decline, but elements of Asian organized crime are still very active in Fiji’s criminal underworld. They have a stake in prostitution, illegal gambling, cybercrime, drug trafficking, as well as human trafficking for sexual exploitation (they operate brothels in the country). In the field of wildlife trafficking, predominantly foreign actors are involved.

State-embedded actors merely facilitate organized crime in Fiji and their influence is rather limited. Reports suggest that low-level officials aid human trafficking, mainly by obstructing investigations, while the increase in drug trafficking through Fiji is contributing to police corruption. Conversely, there is no indication of domestic mafia-style groups being active in Fiji.

Leadership and governance

There have been two democratic elections in Fiji since the 2006 coup d’état. Both were reportedly fair and credible, according to international observers, although Fiji is still considered a moderately vulnerable and fragile state. In the past, organized crime has not been an issue for the Fijian government. However, it emerged as a concern in 2014 and is likely to feature more prominently on political agendas in the years to come. Consequently, Fiji recognized transnational organized crime as a national security issue and took the necessary efforts to minimize the threat. Nevertheless, the integrity of Fiji’s public administration has been called into question, and corruption is widespread. Oversight mechanisms are in place but they are mostly limited and ineffective. Although transparency standards have improved over the past years, more efforts are required.

Fiji is party to a number of international treaties and conventions pertaining to organized crime and is an active participant in relevant regional forums, although it is not a signatory to UNTOC and its protocols, nor is it party to the Arms Trade Treaty. The Extradition Act 2003 regulates matters of extradition, but no bilateral or multilateral prisoner transfer agreements seem to have been in effect in the country. Close cooperation between Fiji and China is evident in a few instances of extradition of wanted persons to China. Regional cooperation in law enforcement appears to be established on paper, but intelligence sharing between local and foreign agencies limits Fiji’s fight against transnational organized crime. In addition, Fiji’s legislation related to organized crime is, for the most part, either outdated or non-existent. The national legal framework makes provision for each stage of the criminal justice process and criminalizes criminal association, but does not explicitly mention organized crime or organized crime groups. The most pressing organized crime issues facing Fiji, namely drug and human trafficking, are covered by legislation, but more efforts to align laws with international standards are needed.

Criminal justice and security

Although the country’s constitution guarantees independence of the judiciary, political interference in the appointment and dismissal of judges persists, blurring the lines between the judiciary and executive branches. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) handles serious cases, including organized crime. As far as the penal system is concerned, Fijian prisons reportedly do not meet international standards, with overcrowding, inefficient essential services and decaying infrastructure identified as key issues. Smuggling of goods and drugs in prisons, as well as abuse of inmates, are also recognized as issues by international observers. Overall, law enforcement capacity is high – the transnational crime unit is tasked with countering organized crime, and plans exist to establish a narcotics bureau. However, funding of law enforcement is poor. Against this backdrop, and due to its geographic and topographic features, Fiji’s territory is difficult to monitor and police. Moreover, the state allows visa-free entry to nationals of more than 132 countries. This, combined with the fact that Fiji is the only county providing air-link connectivity across the region and that it lies on a major drug-trafficking route, makes it a main hub for illicit flows.

Economic and financial environment

Property rights in Fiji are generally respected but obtaining land titles remains difficult. Union rights have improved, with workers now permitted to form trade unions and exercise the right to strike. As a result, the business environment has improved and the country is now moderately conducive to doing business. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has had a substantial impact on the economy, with reports indicating that a significant percentage of Fijian workers are now likely part of the informal economy - almost two thirds. Fiji has also strengthened its anti-money-laundering framework and has addressed deficiencies identified by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering. The country has a financial intelligence unit (FIU) tasked with gathering and analyzing information pertaining to money laundering. There is also a functioning national anti-money-laundering council to liaise between the FIU and other government agencies in Fiji.

Civil society and social protection

To address the high levels of violence against women, Fiji set up a sexual crimes division in 2019, as well as a victim and witness-assistance unit. In addition, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is involved in victim and witness care and management, and prioritizes support services to vulnerable groups. Support and healthcare provided to drug users, on the other hand, is poor. The only treatment available is in a psychiatric facility in the capital, Suva. Prevention efforts are also substandard: with the exception of public awareness campaigns and seminars, little effort has been made to prevent human trafficking. Reducing the demand for forced labour and sexual exploitation has not been addressed, and trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, especially, is a significant issue. Cocaine addiction is on the rise, and awareness campaigns, directed mainly at schoolchildren, are inefficient.

Fiji boasts an active media community, which is somewhat constrained in its work by means of the media industry development decree. Although journalists who openly criticize the government may face intimidation or imprisonment, the media situation in Fiji has significantly improved in the wake of the 2006 coup. Civil society is well developed and active, for the most part functioning without interference from governmental structures. There are, however, strict sedition laws that limit the initiatives that civil society organizations can undertake and which criminalize criticism of the government. In spite of NGOs engaging in a variety of fields, such as women’s and children’s rights, environment protection and conservation, and education, there is no evidence of NGOs working on issues specifically linked to organized crime.