Cocaine in a 'smoke machine', Suva exec faces court today

A 40-year-old man is expected to appear at the Suva Magistrate Court today following his arrest in connection with the alleged unlawful importation of cocaine into Fiji.

The suspect, a general manager at a Suva-based company and a resident of Tamavua, was intercepted by police last Thursday at the DHL Express Service Point in Raiwaqa while attempting to collect a suspicious package.

The arrest was the result of a joint operation between the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).

Authorities had flagged a consignment sent from Brazil, which arrived in the country on October 27, 2025. The package, addressed to the suspect’s company, was labeled as a “Smoke Machine.”

Upon inspection by a drug detector dog, the package was identified as suspicious. Inside, officers discovered a device containing a motherboard concealed under a black cover.

When the cover was cut open, a white powdered substance was found. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine, weighing approximately 640 grams.

A controlled delivery operation was launched, leading to the interception of a vehicle at the company’s car park last afternoon.

The suspect and two others were found in possession of the package. A fourth individual was later arrested during the investigation.

All four suspects were interviewed under allegations of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, contrary to Section 5(b) of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.

Following consultations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), formal charges were laid against the 40-year-old general manager, while the other three were released.

Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.