The many missing drugs exhibits
Are we just scratching the surface
POSSESSION of drugs cases appear more frequently in our news media these days. Nearly as frequently, it seems, the drugs themselves, which are exhibits in those cases, seem to disappear.
There have been several such disappearances of exhibits from police custody in recent years. For the information of the readers let me highlight some of them which were reported in the media.
It was revealed to the Minister for Home Affairs by the Northern Police Command Centre in April last year that incidents of drugs gone missing from the Labasa Police Station’s exhibits have resulted in lack of evidence and offenders being acquitted by the courts. The minister was surprised to hear that drugs from the exhibit rooms in the station were stolen (Source: Fiji Sun 15/4/23).
Case # 2 – Disciplinary action expected over missing exhibits
In February last year cash amounting to $19,000 which was seized during a drug raid went missing from Nadi Police Station. The Police Commissioner was reported as saying “they understand that incidents such as this erode public confidence and trust in policing”. The Commissioner assured that necessary disciplinary actions will be taken against the officer or officers responsible. He further stated that internal disciplinary measures were being strengthened to ensure the safe custody of exhibits, where post holders were held accountable for incidents that are supposed to be under their watch (Source: FBC News 21/2/23).
Case # 3 – Rogue police officers suspended on drug allegations
Five police officers were suspended for drug-related activities. In one case, a woman police constable who had been on the force for two years, had been suspended for testing positive for methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. In another case, an officer in charge, a station officer, and two constables at a prominent police station were suspended on allegations of confiscating and reselling marijuana. A suitcase filled with drugs was confiscated by the police which was later resold to the dealer and some officers shared the money. “There are rogue officers within the force and they are being dealt with,” Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho said (Source: Fiji Sun 5/8/22).
Case # 4 – Drugs case dropped after Fiji cops lose 2kg of cocaine
Drug importation charges against a Sydney man, Giuseppe Mangolini, were dropped after 2kg of cocaine went missing from a Fijian police station’s evidence room (Source: Sydney Daily Telegraph 28/3/21).
Case # 5 – Drugs kept as exhibit missing; police investigate
Marijuana leaves and seeds kept at the Nadi Magistrates Court went missing in 2020, with police launching an investigation. The illicit drugs were locked in a secured room and were exhibits in a court case that was before the Nadi resident magistrate. Police started an investigation after a report was lodged at the Nadi Police
Station by a judicial staff member from the Court. Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro confirmed they were investigating the matter (Source: The Fiji Times, 5/12/20).
Case # 6 – Case withdrawn after drug exhibits go missing from police station
Two cases were withdrawn in 2017 after evidence went missing from a police station. One of these cases involved a matter where two police officers were allegedly trafficking cocaine. A report on the October Serious Crime Statistics by the DPP’s Office showed that the two police officers were charged with one count of trafficking in 1kg of cocaine. The case was withdrawn from court last month after the drugs exhibit went missing from the police station. Another case of home invasion had to be withdrawn because the evidence in the case also went missing from the exhibit room at the police station (Source: Fiji Village 2/11/17).
Case # 7 – Police officers appear in court charged with theft of drugs
Two police officers appeared in the Suva Court in 2012 charged with theft of marijuana from the Nabua Police Station. Police confirmed both had been charged for unlawful supply of illicit drugs and interfering with evidence (Source: Fiji Village 8/6/12).
Case # 8 – Officers to appear in Court
Six police officers were produced at the Suva Magistrates Court charged with allegedly planting drugs in a vehicle belonging to a 23-year-old man in Suva in May last year. All six were charged with one count of conspiracy to defeat justice.
Two of the six officers face additional charges of abuse of office. The six allegedly planted a small clear bag containing methamphetamine in the back of the victim’s car (Source: www.police.gov.fj).
Case # 9 – Officer stole confiscated drugs
In the most recent case it is alleged that on January 14 this year a police officer stationed at Namaka Police Station took advantage of the situation while unloading confiscated drug containers from Legalega to Namaka Police Bureau after allegedly scooping spilled crystal powder suspected to be methamphetamine from a wrapped container and fled the scene.
Addressing the problem
Apart from the above there may be other cases which have not come to light. Exhibits missing from police stations is a serious problem because it has exposed the vulnerabilities within the existing procedures.
Exhibits cannot just vanish into thin air. Neither do they have legs to walk out of the police station. So where do they end up? Undeniably they were removed with the intent to destroy evidence.
Naturally, since they went missing from police custody police officers become the prime suspects. And nobody in his right mind would dare to take such a huge risk unless someone was willing to pay.
Is this a tip of the iceberg?
Are these cases symptomatic of a larger malaise within the system? For example, whether all confiscated items are being properly accounted for and have recovered stolen goods have been returned to their rightful owners?
The probability of tampering with evidence, collusion between police officers and criminals and other corrupt dealings cannot be ruled out either.
If the stolen goods were sold, then the earnings become proceeds of crime. Such unethical conduct does not portray a good image of the Fiji Police Force and will only dent the confidence of the public. Unfortunately, it could not be established whether the internal investigations resulted in the recovery of the missing items or conviction of the perpetrators.
Preventive measures
Obviously there is an urgent need to purge the Fiji Police Force of the rogue elements that bring disrepute to the organisation. Given their blemished records they cannot be entrusted with the custody of the exhibits. To do so would be tantamount to allowing the Dracula to guard the blood bank.
As a risk mitigating measure the Commissioner of Police should give some serious thought to relocating the storage facility away from police stations for the safe custody of the seized goods.
It is also imperative for him to consider setting up an independent body such as Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate all complaints against his officers to ensure the transparency and integrity of the process.
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