Police probe alleged $500,000 imported kava theft

Police probe alleged $500,000 imported kava theft Nearly $500,000 in imported kava allegedly stolen from containers as police investigate security breaches. Tuesday 28 July 2026 | 12:00 One of the containers that was allegedly broken into at the Suva Port. Supplied. Fiji Ports Authority has come under scrutiny after close to $500,000 worth of imported kava were allegedly stolen inside shipping containers at the Suva port on three separate occasions. The incidents happened within a span of two months, between May and June this year. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that investigation into the matter was ongoing. Related stories The stolen kava was imported by four different Fijian owned kava trading companies. Twin Kava Dealers director Ravneel Chand is urging the Fiji Ports Authority to take responsibility and compensate companies for their stolen commodities. Mr Chand said $203,830 worth of kava was stolen from them. Another kava trading company had 17 sacks stolen, while another had $100,000 worth of kava stolen. One of the company owners said when he inspected the container, there were signs of forced entry. This masthead understands that five suspects were questioned, with one suspect admitting to committing the offence, and that a supervisor masterminded the operation. These multiple incidents raise serious concerns about major security gaps within Fiji Ports, and the need for police and the ports authority to strengthen their existing memorandum of understanding. Questions sent to the authority’s Acting chief executive officer, Suresh Prasad, and the chairman, Sikeli Tuituku, remain unanswered when this edition went to press.