Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he would consider launching an investigation into the business ties between a convicted drug and sex trafficker and a member of his cabinet, as reported by OCCRP this week, if the matter is formally brought to his attention.
The two individuals, Ifereimi Vasu, Fiji’s Minister for iTaukei (indigenous) Affairs, and Jason Zhong, have been co-owners of an agricultural enterprise since 2017. According to police sources cited by OCCRP, Zhong is suspected of involvement in a local organized crime network.
Zhong was profiled in a 2020 police briefing document obtained by OCCRP, which identified him by aliases such as “Ice Man” and “Triad Boss.” Officers, speaking anonymously due to fears for their safety, said the document was used in briefings to then-Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama regarding the suspected criminal group.
Rabuka told the Fiji Times he would consider investigating the matter if formally raised, but added he would first speak with Vasu. Neither Zhong nor Vasu has been charged with any crime related to these allegations, and there is no evidence that their agricultural business is involved in illegal activities.
In July 2023, Rabuka defended Vasu when opposition lawmakers questioned the connection between the two men, stating that “Honourable Vasu’s business partner has served his time” and that Vasu met constitutional requirements for public office. Rabuka also highlighted Vasu’s compliance with asset declaration laws.
Zhong was previously convicted in 2005 for operating a meth lab in Suva, which resulted in the largest drug bust in Fiji’s history at the time. He was imprisoned again in 2012 for sex trafficking Thai women. Zhong now faces charges from Fiji's anti-corruption commission, FICAC, for allegedly bribing officials at the iTaukei Land Trust Board, which Vasu chairs.
The two registered their jointly owned company, Qera Mai Lagi PTE Limited, in 2017. The business operates agricultural sites on Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. Neither Vasu nor Zhong responded to OCCRP’s requests for comment.
