Businessman to front court tomorrow over alleged role in 39kg cocaine export

A 40-year-old businessman from Lautoka is set to appear in the Nadi Magistrate Court tomorrow, to face serious drug charges linked to a massive cocaine shipment intercepted six years ago.

The accused was arrested and re-charged yesterday following a renewed investigation into the 2019 exportation of over 39 kilograms of cocaine from Fiji to Australia.

The suspect was originally charged in 2019 alongside a foreign national.

However, the case was previously discontinued after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a nolle prosequi.

The matter was recently reopened by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Serious Organised Crime and Intelligence Department (SOCID).

Working with the DPP’s Organised Crime Unit, authorities successfully moved to re-charge the businessman with one count each of unlawful possession and supply of an illicit drug and unlawful exportation of an illicit drug.

Police allege that in October 2019, the businessman organised the transfer of the cocaine from a foreign accomplice to Denarau.

The drugs were then handed over to another foreign national, who was intercepted and arrested by Australian authorities upon arrival.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime (ACP/C) Mesake Waqa stated that the force remains dedicated to dismantling drug networks.

ACP Waqa said the organisation is committed to disrupting and destabilising the illicit drug trade, ensuring those involved are brought to justice.

Efforts are currently underway with the assistance of INTERPOL to locate and arrest the second suspect, a foreign national involved in the initial 2019 case.