A 24-year-old Canadian national charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs has pleaded not guilty.

Joshua Aziz Rahman appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday.

It is alleged that on February 14, 2019, at Nasinu, Rahman was found in possession of 39.5 kilograms of an illicit drug, namely cocaine.

The raid was conducted at Rahman’s home at Caubati, Nasinu, on February 14, where 39 bars of white powder was discovered and later tested positive to be cocaine worth more than $30 million.

Defence lawyer Ashniel Nadan told the court that the accused was a business consultant by profession and was in Fiji to visit his father at the time of his arrest.

He also told the court that the accused had no previous conviction and had spent more than a month in remand.

The court heard that at the time of Rahman’s arrest his father was in Police custody in New Zealand.

Mr Nadan told the court that the illicit drugs were allegedly found in the accused’s father’s bedroom, which the accused had nothing to do with.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Jack told the court that the State was objecting to the bail application on the grounds that it was a matter involving a man with limited ties in Fiji and who was a foreign national.

He also told the court that based on the information received by foreign drug enforcement agencies the accused was arrested in Nadi and brought to Suva before the raid was conducted.

Mr Jack told the court that the substance was packed in 39 separate packages and was kept underneath the bed in the accused’s father’s bedroom.

He also told the court that the value of the illicit drugs was more than $30 million.

Justice Goundar remanded Rahman in custody and adjourned the matter to March 28 for bail hearing.

Edited by Epineri Vula