Palauan national jailed over unlawful meth possession

A 38-year-old man who overstayed his visa and was found with methamphetamine at a Suva property has been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Lagomarcino Baules appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza where he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of illicit drugs and being a prohibited immigrant.

The Suva Magistrate Court heard Baules was arrested on September 23, 2025, during a Serious Organized Crime Unit operation at a property on Rewa Street, Suva. He was suspected of being linked to drug activities.

He is the son of Palau’s Senate president, Hokkons Baules.

Police, assisted by the K9 Unit, searched the property where Baules lived with two co-accused persons. A police dog identified areas of interest inside the house, leading officers to a bedroom where a clear ziplock bag containing a white crystal substance was found.

The substance was later confirmed by forensic testing to be methamphetamine weighing 0.345 grams.

Baules initially denied possessing the drugs when questioned by police, but later pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court also heard that Baules entered Fiji on a visitor’s visa on September 3, 2025, which expired on September 16. He was arrested seven days after his visa had expired, making his stay in the country unlawful.

Baules was initially sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment for the drug offence. Two years were added due to the seriousness of the offence, bringing the sentence to five-and-a-half years.

However, the court reduced the sentence after considering his personal circumstances, including that he was a first offender, had spent about seven months in remand, was self-employed, has a teenage child, and showed remorse.

A one-third discount was also granted for his early guilty plea, leaving him with a final sentence of three years imprisonment.

With time already spent in custody, Baules will serve a further two years and five months.

The court noted that the Ministry of Immigration will consider his removal from Fiji after completion of his sentence.