AT least $2billion in dirty money would have been generated and laundered if not for last year’s 4.15 tonnes drug bust in Nadi — and the ripple effects on Pacific communities including Fiji would be unfathomable.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku made this remark at the High Court in Lautoka yesterday during the sentencing submissions of the nine accused.
Justin Ho, David Heritage, Louie Logaivau, Aporosa Davelevu, Sakiusa Tuva, Jale Aukerea, Osea Levula, Cathy Tuirabe and Viliame Colawaliku appeared before Justice Aruna Aluthge.
The State was represented by Mr Rabuku and his co-counsel, Joeli Nasa.
Mr Rabuku said this illicit financial flow would have perpetuated the existence of the dark and underworld economy “that is marked with drug trafficking, violence, trafficking in persons, cybercrime, terrorism and other serious transnational crime”.
He said that a hype in narcotics-enabled crime, addiction, and a strain on the resources of the police, prosecution, judiciary, prisons, social and health services would become inevitable.
“Corruption within police enforcement, border control of our justice system and amongst our politicians would rise in order to facilitate the ongoing drug trade.
“The cost on governments would sky-rocket while development would be stifled, and poverty would rise.
“The spread of HIV and AIDS through drug use would be the norm as our communities and society descend into total moral decay.
“Yet the drug traffickers now turned drug lords would continue to live lavish lifestyles commanding the order of the day through the bribing of corrupt law enforcement and government officials in order to perpetuate their despicable trade.
Mr Rabuku said it was through this lens that the court should consider the sentencing of the accused.
He said the purity level of the methamphetamine was very high and traffickers would have been able to cut the purity down by mixing it with other substances to increase its quantity and profits.
Meanwhile, the State asked the High Court to hand down a sentence of 50 years for Ho, Heritage and Aukerea for their part in the importation of the drugs.
The State also submitted that Logaivau and Tuva have their sentencing start within 30 to 35 years as they were the middle level players.
For Davelevu, Levula, Tuirabe and Colowaliku, the State called for the starting point to sit within the lowest end of the tariff, preferably 25 years.
The matter has been adjourned to next week Wednesday for mitigation by the defence counsels.