Cruisers Experience Intense Searches and Scrutiny in Fiji
Cruisers are accustomed to being boarded by officials when arriving in foreign ports. For the most part, the procedures are fairly standard and easily accommodated. Recently, however, cruisers in Fiji have been facing more stringent and repetitive interventions from local officials. Longtime liveaboard cruisers and friends of Latitude Bruce Balan and Alene Rice, of the Cross 46 trimaran Migration, alerted us to news of cruisers being subjected to lengthy and intrusive searches while on the docks in Savusavu, Fiji.
Sailors Mark and Cindy, of the 52-ft Amel Cream Puff, were on their second visit to Fiji and decided to stay at the Nawi Island Marina, located just off the township of Savusavu. They had checked into the country in early July and had cleared customs and immigration. Three weeks later they were boarded by 10 customs officials. The couple described the ensuing two-hour search as “highly disrespectful and invasive.”
“They were simultaneously up top and down below as well in the engine compartment. It was not possible for us to watch over all 10 officials. They went through EVERY cabinet, draw, and storage area of the boat,” Mark wrote on their blog Cream Puff – Life’s Sweet Treat. “They removed everything and opened all containers. Nothing was placed back properly and our boat was basically ransacked causing us hours of work to re-stow things orderly and securely. They asked us to open our safe and took pictures of very personal documents that did not pertain to the search. We have no idea why or what these pictures will be used for. Nor do we know if the pictures will remain secure as they were using personal cellphone cameras.”
The search delivered no contraband or other issues, yet they say they were treated poorly by the team of customs officials — their possessions strewn about the boat and items confiscated for verification. Not to mention the inconvenient breakages.
A large concern appeared to center around alcohol, with the officials being interested in quantities aboard, and seeking proof of local purchase.
“I was asked how much alcohol we have aboard,” the blog continues. “I responded that I had no earthly idea. Again, keep in mind we’ve been here for about three weeks and have consumed and purchased alcohol at the local shops. The person questioning me referred to our customs declaration we made at the time of entry stating our inventory. This declaration was verified by customs at the time of entry into Fiji [and] is now over three weeks old.”
The search included the officials’ using their cell phones to take photographs of personal documentation and information, and a bag of powdered sugar, presumably on the suspicion that the white substance could have been drugs. Pharmaceuticals stored in the cruisers’ medical kit were also targeted and scrutinized.
According to recent news reports, Fiji is dealing with a large-scale drug problem. Cartels are using the country as a landing place for drugs earmarked for New Zealand and Australia. The drugs are also making their way to the streets and causing issues in the communities. Could this be the cause for the reports of random and repeated boardings and searches in Fiji?
Another cruiser, James, has reported similar treatment in Savusavu, and shared the story in Cruise News, a magazine published by Island Cruising in New Zealand. And while James found the officials less intrusive than Mark and Cindy had, the search was thorough, and again highlighted the ship’s alcohol and medicine stores. It also occurred two weeks after James had cleared Fijian customs.
“The whole check took around one hour and was very thorough,” James wrote, “including looking in the drawers, sail bags, fridge, freezers, inside shoes and clothing. The cushions were unzipped and checked.” Unlike aboard Cream Puff, James’s possessions were mostly put back in place.
“While I could be picky and say that everything was not put back like it was prior to their arrival, they did try their best to return all gear as it was.”
We share this story to alert cruisers, and also to ask if any of our readers have had a similar experience when staying in Fiji. Add your comments below or send us an email at [email protected].
Read Mark’s full account of his experience here.
You identify personnel in the picture as being customs officals. They are not Fijian officials, they are US Coast Guardsman. Did they conduct a joint boarding?
The picture is of the 3rd time the vessel was searched in less than 8-weeks in Fiji. Read the post on their blog. The link is in the article above
The USCG supports this community frequently. Bizarre to feature an article trashing a LEDET over an isolated incident, but posting a picture of the Coast Guardsman involved is inappropriate and disappointing to me an an avid Latitude reader. Is the author suffering from some sort of Fleet Week hangover?
Hardly an isolated incident. If you read the article you will see that in excess of 20 vessels were searched.
It has been widely reported Down Under that Fiji is being used as a staging post for drug importations from South America and Central America BY SAILING VESSELS used by cartels.
So I’d guess that this is legitimate intel the Fiji Customs is using to justify it’s increased search levels and level of search of foreign SAILING vessels.
Might be worth asking from which direction cruisers being searched arrived. Are those from Oz and NZ being targetted as much as those coming from French Polynesia or Central America..??
Bottom line is, several seriously large cargoes of drugs have been seized, so it’s no wonder they are on their toes and being proactive in their searches.
In the local media it is documented that the majority of the drugs are entering Fiji in commercial ports and corruption exists among the officials. There is not a single incident where one of these searches has resulted in a drug-related arrest on a private boat in Fiji.
If you read the entire story, you will see the vessel arrived from New Zealand. Previous ports of call were not a factor. All vessels in the locations where we were boarded were searched.
Having visited many others countries while serving in the U. S. Navy I came to understand that one really does NOT enjoy “Rights”. What one may or may not do is strictly up to the authorities of the place you are visiting. Fiji is no different. Best to keep yourself and your boat clean and smile. Then depart.
Its not the first time, and it won’t be the last. We visited Fiji in 1997, and on the way, we heard SSB reports about problems in SavuSavu with one agent there. The customs man was Indian, and he charged a high fee for every ounce of alcohol over the over the free import limit. We decided to check in at Suva, and the Fijian agents were so stoned on Kava, they didn’t even go to inspect our boat. Alcohol is not an illegal drug, so I am surprised that the USCG was helping to tear the boats apart.
Yes. This is why I took the time to document this event. Others can avoid the area if they choose. Information is the key.
Why the attitude? Come on… it’s a legit story that discusses the ongoing drug issues (which come and go). Key bit is the inspectors can do their job w/o trashing a boat as described. Tourists are entitled to respect and if they don’t get that hurts everyone, including the host country. If drugs are really the issue send a dog down below for 2 minutes and then move onto the next boat.
I am among the many cruisers in Fiji this year (Boat Aldabra, Home Port Santa Cruz). Yes, dozens of us have been boarded by teams of officials, some all Fijian, some joint forces. In almost every case that I know of, the teams have been respectful and the searches have been conducted with a light touch. Most of us find that welcoming the teams on board and showing our papers has led to a positive experience.
“almost every case”?
There are several other people who have expressed similar situations on social media groups regarding the activities in Savusavu.
At no point in the article does it state Mark and Cindy were unwelcoming and withheld papers. In fact, the opposite is clearly stated.
Happy for you that your experience turned out better than ours. But, please refrain from minimizing our horrible experience.