Underwater Transponder Found in Deep Fiji Waters

A soldier from the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces discovered an underwater transponder which is said to be linked to hard drugs making its way to the island nation. Led by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, the Police undertook a two-week underwater dive, about 50 meters into the Lomaiviti waters to reach that area. The Police Chief said the soldier noticed the transponder which he cut up and brought to the Military Police.

A transponder is a device which upon receiving a radio signal, emits a different signal in response. The Fiji Police Force suspect that the transponder was placed at a drug drop-off and pick-up place to alert those involved in the trade of its coordinates. The device has been sent overseas to be analyzed.

Qiliho said a few days after the discovery of the transponder, they received information about a yacht being sighted in the area. He said this was also a reason to raise alarm because the area was not a dive spot as it did not have colourful coral and marine life that attracted divers. "When we received information about the yacht, we sent out one of our fast boats to try and inspect the vessel and find out the reason for it to be in the area, but the yacht had sailed away."

The Police Chief further said that the tactic of dumping drugs in the water is not new. "This has been happening in other neighbouring countries jurisdiction and it is now happening here. We are onto it and continue to monitor that area and other areas as well to ensure that hard drugs do not make its way into Fiji."