Fiji customs authorities are reported to be on the trail of four foreign men who have been harassing yacht owners to sell them their boats or give them passage to New Zealand.
The Fiji Sun reports that the incident happened at the Vuda Point Marina midway between Nadi and Lautoka, while a similar demand has been reported from the Denarau Island Marina in Nadi.
The manager of Vuda Point Marina, Milika Wata-Marshall, is quoted as saying the four men, believed to be of Turkish origin, started a ruckus when no one wanted to sell them a yacht or give them passage to New Zealand.
They even manhandled a New Zealand yachtsman's daughter after he refused their request but left hurriedly when he threatened to call police.
Mrs Wata-Marshall says she was suspicious about the four because if all they wanted was a passage to New Zealand, they could have bought airline tickets.
She says their insistent and demanding behaviour suggested they were trying to dodge immigration authorities and it was important to report them to the authorities.
