A 40-year-old Lautoka businessman has been arrested and re-charged for his alleged role in facilitating the exportation of more than 39 kilograms of cocaine to Australia in 2019, as Fiji Police intensify efforts with the assistance of INTERPOL to apprehend a second suspect.
In a statement, Police said the accused was initially charged in 2019 alongside a foreign national. However, the matter was later discontinued in court after a nolle prosequi was filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Investigators allege that in October 2019, the businessman organised the transfer of illicit substances from the second suspect to Denarau, where the drugs were allegedly handed over to another foreign national.
That individual was later arrested upon arrival in Australia with the illicit substances.
Police said a multi-agency operation led to the arrests and charging of the two accused persons in Fiji in 2019.
The case was subsequently reviewed and re-pursued by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Serious Organised Crime and Intelligence Department (SOCID).
With the assistance of the DPP’s Organised Crime Unit, the 40-year-old suspect was arrested and re-charged on 20 December.
He now faces one count of unlawful possession and supply of an illicit drug and one count of unlawful exportation of an illicit drug.
The accused is expected to be produced at the Nadi Magistrates Court today.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime, Mesake Waqa, said the Fiji Police Force remains resolute in its fight against the illicit drug trade.
“The organisation is committed to disrupting and destabilising the illicit drug trade and ensuring those involved, whether locals or foreign nationals, are brought to justice,” ACP Waqa said.
