The owner of a home in Solovi, Nadi which was raided by Police last week where marijuana plants were seized had allegedly fled the country.

This has been confirmed by Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro yesterday.

“The house was raided last week where 40 marijuana plants were seized and we were searching for the owner when he is believed to have fled the country,” she said.

Police are now awaiting the National Fire Authority report as investigations on the fire continue.

The issue was brought to light after his seven-bedroom home was engulfed in flames at around 7am yesterday.

When the Fiji Sun arrived at the scene, a team of six Police officers and close to ten fire fighters were already at the scene trying to put out the fire.

A Police officer at the home which was burnt down in Solovi, Nadi on May 4 2018.
Photo: Arieta Vakasukawaqa

According to the neighbours, who wished to remain anonymous, they suspected that something illegal was going in that home which was owned by a man known to the sugarcane farming community as ‘Bablu’ believed to be in his 50s.

Ms Naisoro added that Police have been searching for the man.

Close relatives of ‘Bablu’ who also wished to remain anonymous said he flew out to Tonga with his five children and wife on Tuesday.

“He owns a few properties which he had built in his own residential property, he also owns a big sugarcane farm which he inherited from his late father and just a few days ago we heard that he flew out to Tonga where his wife was originally from,” they said.

Edited by Percy Kean

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