Overview:
Authorities in Fiji are searching for a suspected drug kingpin believed to be linked to multiple attempts to breach the Republic of Fiji Military Forces armoury, as new details emerge of drone sightings, internal security concerns, and a custody death now under murder investigation.
SUVA, 24 APRIL 2026 (MAI TV) —The search is on for a well-known Fiji drug kingpin who is suspected of being linked to the recent attempts on the Fiji Military armoury, military sources tell Mai TV.
It is believed the drug kingpin fled to the west where he is now believed to be in hiding and seeking to get out of the country.
The Kingpin is allegedly linked to Jone Vakarisi who died last week in military custody after being questioned about involvement in the attempts on the armoury.
Sources say Vakarisi gave up information before he died from asphyxiation from the beating received. Mai TV hasnt been able to verify what information was given.
However Mai TV has been reliably informed that there were three attempts on the RFMF armoury – once in Nabua and twice in Lautoka.
In the first attempt, the military handled the breach internally and strengthened security measures within the facility.
The two attempts in Lautoka was blatant. In one attempt the perpetrator cut through the fence to gain access to the camp, and then cut another fence to gain access to the armoury, before he was interrupted by a sentry and fled.
Prior to all these soldiers on guard had been logging sightings of drones over the camps over a span of time.
After the second attempt, a statement was put out to confirm the events and reassure the public with Police leading investigations.
Internal investigations within the camp saw the military identify a number of soldiers with close association to Vakarisi who are suspected of passing him information.
Sources also tell Mai TV that the guard on duty when Vakarisi visited the camp weeks before and the soldier who escorted him both knew Vakarisi or had prior association with him.
One of the soldiers who was held for his alleged involvement in the security breach was released last night, but the joint task force are continuing investigations – although trust among the two institutions is being questioned.
Meanwhile the men who were taken up with Vakarisi and severely beaten have had their statements taken by Police, and reportedly taken back to QEB to provide a rundown of what took place that morning.
The men insist they are unaware of the attempts on the armoury.
Police are treating Vakarisi’s death as murder.
In an exclusive interview with Mai TV’s The Brunch Show this week, the mother of Vakarisi’s children Queenie Osbourne and daughter Isabella called for those involved in his death to be brought to justice.
Osbourne called for transparency and accountability and the protection of her family and children. She says despite the allegations against him, Vakarisi did not deserve to die.
The RFMF has released a statement expressing their commitment to accountability, and “where wrongdoing is established, it will be addressed in accordance with the law.” They have also extended their condolences to the family.
The men who were taken up with Vakarisi have passed messages to Mai TV through a third party confirming that their statements have been taken by Police and they have been taken to QEB to show and describe what happened to them prior to Vakarisi’s death.
The men say they were severely beaten and asked questions around four main issues; Were they part of the attempt on the armoury, where are the drones, where are the guns and magazines, and to give up names of those allegedly involved.
The men tell Mai TV they have no knowledge of the attempt on the armoury and are unaware of the drones and guns they have been questioned about.
They say Vakarisi and some others were subjected to severe beatings and boiling water.
“Sa toka tuga na waikatakata (they kept boiling the hot water),” one said and while they maintain innocence they acknowledge that “so na information e tiko vei Vakarisi e information bibi (the information with Vakarisi was very deep and important)” and had to do with the involvement of certain leaders in drugs.
However they said that despite the severe treatment they were subjected to, they maintained that they had no information at all about the attempts on the armoury pitching it as an attempt to frame them.
The military has however put out a statement warning of the “existence of an organized criminal network attempting to compromise national stability. Investigations have identified the presence of unauthorized weaponry, verified as being outside of the RFMF’s official inventory. Documentation suggests a continued intent by this network to target state infrastructure, posing a credible threat to public safety.”
No drones or guns have been found yet but security sources tell Mai TV they are pursuing strong leads….PACNEWS