17 Jun 2004

Fiji Customs and Immigration officials could face charges over huge drugs bust

8:22 pm on 17 June 2004

Police files on a Fiji customs officer and an immigration official implicated in last week's 600-million US dollar drug bust will go the director of public prosecutions.

Radio Legend says the immigration official is alleged to have facilitated the entry of the Asians arrested in the drug scam and the customs officer is alleged to have facilitated the entry of the drug making chemicals seized by police.

The immigration officer is alleged to have personally gone to the airport to ensure that at least one of the Asians was allowed entry.

The police spokesman, Mesake Koroi, says the DPP will decide whether to lay charges against the two men.

Meanwhile, Fiji's Home Affairs Minister has defended his decision to override the decision of an immigration officer to bar entry to one of the six Asians and allow him into the country.

Joketani Cokanasiga says he was not aware of that Hon Keung Lam was refused entry because he was carrying multiple passports and a large sum of money.

The minister says he reviewed Lam's file after the issue was highlighted in the media.