NEARLY 40 kilograms of cocaine worth about $FJD31 million have been replaced with flour at the Suva High Court exhibit room.
Fiji Police confirmed forensic tests on the remaining exhibits returned negative for cocaine after all 39 bars linked to a major drug case were found to have been tampered with.
Police said the investigation is focused on those responsible for managing the exhibits at the High Court Registry. A person of interest is currently overseas and will be questioned.
The exhibits were part of the 39.5kg of cocaine seized in a 2019 drug case involving Fiji-Canadian national Joshua Aziz Rahman.
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga described the incident as shocking and said anyone found responsible would be held accountable, while urging the public to allow police to complete their investigation.
Opposition MP Jone Usamate described the replacement of cocaine with flour as a “sad indictment” and questioned whether other exhibits held at the High Court could be relied upon.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had earlier called for stronger security around court exhibits, saying the incident showed the system had not been as secure as previously thought.
