Man linked to $1b Vatia Wharf drug bust faces pretrial conference

A man previously found with cocaine will face a pretrial conference later this month, remaining in remand as one of six accused linked to Fiji’s largest‑ever alleged cocaine seizure at Vatia Wharf in Tavua.

Bainivalu Sauturaga, 25, is scheduled to appear for the conference on May 26.

While he has been granted bail in one matter, he remains in custody over the Vatia Wharf case, which involves the alleged seizure of more than $1 billion worth of cocaine.

Sauturaga is accused in the Vatia matter following the seizure of 2,630 parcels of cocaine.

He is the sixth accused in the case, in which those charged face counts of conspiracy to import illicit drugs, with some also facing charges related to possession of proceeds of crime.

His bail application in that case was previously rejected by High Court judge Justice Samuela Qica.

Yesterday, Sauturaga appeared before Lautoka High Court judge Justice Sunil Sharma on a separate and earlier matter, where he is charged with possession of an illicit drug.

That offence is alleged to have occurred in Saweni, Lautoka, in 2024.

Police have alleged that Sauturaga was found with 7.7 grams of cocaine during a search, with further investigations leading to the discovery of an additional 1.02 kilograms of the drug at his residence.

Sauturaga is represented by Filimoni Daveta.