A known Australian drug criminal and a criminal syndicate of Fijian nationals based in Australia are allegedly linked to the discovery of the 4.15 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine in Nadi last year. The known Australian drug criminal is Sam Amine. He has business connections in Fiji and Australia. Amine, who is currently detained in Australia for a separate drug-related case, fled the country following the discovery of the meth in Legalega and Maqalevu in January. He was arrested in May last year by the New South Wales Police for his alleged involvement in the supply of illicit drugs within Australia, which involved two other individuals, one of whom was an Australian- based Fijian league player, who later had drug charges against him dropped. Amine’s $10 million assets were frozen by the Australian Federal Police following his arrest. Australia media reports that the NSW Police allege that Amine used an encrypted application to a r range for the supply of MDMA also known as ecstasy, cocaine and a gun to an undercover police officer on six occasions between February and April. It was heard in the NSW Supreme Court that Amine was linked to the Alameddines and KVT criminal syndicates in Australia. The NSW court heard that Amine is closely associated with the leader of the KVT crime gang, (X). The leader of the KVT crime gang is not charged with any offence. The KVT criminal syndicate is a known gang of Fijian nationals based in Australia. This criminal syndicate is believed to be linked to the 4.15 tonnes of meth through the owner of a prominent kava bar in Nadi, who was deported from Australia. RUN-IN WITH THE LAW In 2019, 451.5 grams of anabolic steroids was discovered inside an electricity meter box of one of the units Amine had occupied in Fantasy Island, Nadi. He left the country soon after before any charges were laid. He was arrested in 2022 when he returned to Fiji and was produced at the Nadi Magistrates Court. He was acquitted of the charges of one count of possession of illicit drugs. In 2021, Amine was a victim of kidnapping and abduction in Sydney, Australia, where four men were caught on CCTV camera dragging him out of his house and into a vehicle, where he was taken to a vacant house and tortured. Amine managed to escape. He told the Australian Police that the men were demanding millions of dollars FIJI CONNECTION In Fiji, Amine was the hidden figure allegedly financing local businesses. He is alleged to have people on the ground as the face of his operations. The local Police have concluded their investigations into identifying the local crime syndicate. Following the raid, 15 people were arrested. The matter is before the court. The 15 were released on bail. However, the Fiji Police Force (FPF), together with their foreign partners, have not ruled out the involvement of foreign drug criminals. Sam is one of the overseas drug criminals who is on the watchlist. “The FPF confirms that we are working with the Australian Federal Police and international law enforcement partners in investigating those responsible for the trafficking of the drugs from its origins to its destined countries,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime, Mesake Waqa. The 4.15 tonnes of meth was believed to have been shipped from the West Coast of the United States of America destined for the Australian market. Fiji was a transiting point. But part of the illicit substance was already circulated in Fiji, leading to the successful raid by the Eastern Division Taskforce. Russians and Mexicans are believed to be involved in trafficking the drugs using a superyacht from its country of origin to the high seas outside of the Yasawa group. A Nadi-based businessman facilitated the movement of the drugs from the high seas to mainland Nadi in an open barge. In Nadi, another businessman, believed to be Amine’s business partner, was to be responsible for moving the drugs on land. Because of the large quantity of the drugs, it was to be kept in another secluded location. The illegal operation took a wrong turn when the drugs was taken to Legalega. Legalega was just a few minutes away from a popular kava bar, owned by another Nadi businessman. The Kava bar was razed to the ground in a fire following the two raids. It is believed that the initial plan was to have the meth transported from Legalega to the kava bar where it was to be packaged into kava bags and exported to Australia. Some of the drugs that were already packaged were seized from Maqalevu. LOCAL BUSINESS Amine is an Australian citizen. He had travelled to Fiji several times. In 2014, local media and online search indicated that he and another individual, who was born in Australia, opened Pacific Fitness Centre, in Denarau. Two years later, in 2016, the business partners opened a second Pacific Fitness Centre in Lautoka. Company search records show that Pacific Fitness Centre is a registered business name of Denarau Fitness Pte Ltd and does not show Amine’s name as a company director. Instead, the records listed his business partner, and another individual as the directors of Denarau Fitness Pte Ltd. The Pacific Fitness Centre website only listed Amine’s business partner as the sole owner of the business. According to statements given to Police by those involved, Amine also owned the warehouse in which the 4.15 tonnes of meth was to be secretly kept. His connections to the local criminal syndicate allowed for the illicit drugs to enter Fiji. OVERCOMING THREAT Only 3.15 tonnes of the total seized meth was incinerated two weeks ago, following a court order. The court also ordered that one kilogram be kept aside for future Police training. Months of preparation were undertaken in the lead up to the destruction of the drugs. As per the court order, there were to be observers present at the site of the Dignified Crematorium in Nakasi. Republic of Fiji Military Forces personnel were deployed to the location to ensure no threat to the process of destruction. The military, together with the Fiji Police Special Response Unit were stationed along the perimeter of the site, and further out for surveillance purposes. Feedback: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj