The Revenue and Customs has confirmed the forty packages containing cocaine bars that were discovered in the Lau group last week was estimated to be valued at around $30m.

People living in the outer islands are encouraged to report any suspicious activities out at sea or on land to the FRCS or the Police.

FRCS Chief Executive Visvanath Das says customs Officers have vast powers under the Customs Act and other laws in relation to our borders, which Fijians need to be aware of and not hesitate to call Customs if they come across any suspicious discoveries / activities out at Sea / Land.

This comes after several parcels of brown packages proved to be cocaine were discovered on separate occasions in the Lau group.

Das acknowledged the people living in the Lau group who played a vital role in informing Revenue and Customs when the packages were discovered on the island.

With the assistance of the Fiji Navy and New Zealand Naval Vessel Taupo, the Revenue and Customs Maritime Surveillance team successfully brought the packages to the naval base last week and handed it to the Fiji Police for further investigation.

Das says people in the outer islands need to be vigilant and inform the Revenue and Customs of any suspicious activities on island shores.

The FRCA is currently working closely with border agencies on a national and international level for the purpose of strengthening Maritime Surveillance of our border and the region.