New Zealand’s Role as a 'Cash Cow' in the Pacific Meth Market Fuels Regional Drug Crisis

For years, the Pacific region has been quietly bearing the brunt of a growing methamphetamine crisis, with New Zealand and Australia positioned at the heart of the problem. A transnational crime expert has warned that the two nations are the 'cash cows' of the Pacific drug trade, fueling a surge in meth use that is destabilizing communities across the region.

Jose Sousa-Santos, an associate professor at the University of Canterbury's Pacific Regional Security hub, has highlighted the alarming shift in the drug trade over the past five years. Previously, drug smuggling through the Pacific was largely unimpacted by local communities, with facilitators being paid in cash. Now, however, the method has changed dramatically — with facilitators receiving drugs as payment instead of money.

This change has led to an exponential growth in local drug markets, particularly in countries like Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. The impact has been felt in multiple ways, from the spread of HIV due to needle sharing among users to the erosion of social fabric and the corruption of law enforcement agencies.

Fiji, for instance, has declared an HIV outbreak, with new cases rising by 281 percent between 2023 and 2024. The country has also seen an alarming increase in drug-related crime, including the recent seizure of nearly 5kg of methamphetamine at Nadi airport. Among those charged were two members of the Fijian Counter-narcotics Bureau and the head of Customs intelligence — a clear sign of infiltration and corruption.

Sousa-Santos explained that the methamphetamine is not only coming from traditional sources in the Americas and Asia but is also being transported through new routes involving smaller criminal groups in the Pacific. These groups, often composed of deportees from New Zealand, Australia, and the US, have brought with them new tactics that local law enforcement is not accustomed to dealing with.

These individuals, many of whom have struggled to reintegrate into Pacific society, have turned back to their former criminal networks in their countries of origin. This has created a 'perfect storm' of criminal activity, with local markets being fed by international suppliers and new, more sophisticated smuggling techniques.

Addressing the crisis, Sousa-Santos emphasized the need for a holistic approach. This includes strengthening regional security frameworks, engaging with both international bodies like Interpol and local community leaders, and ensuring that any solutions are culturally appropriate and context-specific.

The situation is not just a regional issue but one that has significant implications for New Zealand as well. As the 'cash cow' of the Pacific meth market, the country is not only enabling the crisis but is also facing the consequences — both in terms of international reputation and the potential for increased drug-related crime at home.

The path forward, Sousa-Santos said, must involve collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and a long-term commitment to addressing the root causes of the drug crisis in the Pacific.