An Australian citizen has been sentenced to 21 years and three months imprisonment after being convicted of possessing more than one kilogram of cocaine, with the High Court warning that Fiji’s courts will show no leniency towards drug offenders.
High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma sentenced Bainivalu Sauturaga in Lautoka on August 13 after he was found guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
The case arose from a police patrol in Saweni in February 2024. Police initially became suspicious after noticing a black twin-cab displaying a registration number that an officer had previously seen on a different vehicle.
Police subsequently discovered 7.937 grams of cocaine in the vehicle. A room key found in the vehicle later led officers to Room No. 6 at Western Boarding Service, where a police K9 detected a package inside a travelling bag. Testing confirmed the package contained 1.02 kilograms of cocaine.
Justice Sharma found the quantity indicated involvement in a supply chain rather than possession for personal use.
“The quantity of the drugs indicate involvement in a supply chain rather than possession for personal use,” the judgment states.
The court also considered the prevalence of drug offending, the potential harm caused by cocaine and evidence of planning and concealment as aggravating factors.
Justice Sharma noted that the twin-cab was using a registration plate belonging to another vehicle, while the cocaine found in the room had been concealed in a black rubber pouch.
The court adopted a starting point of 20 years, adding three years for aggravating factors before making deductions for mitigation and time already spent in remand. The final aggregate sentence was 21 years and three months.
Justice Sharma delivered a strong warning about the growing impact of illicit drugs on Fiji.
“The accused must now be prepared to face the full brunt of the law,” he said.
“Society is weary of drug cases rearing their ugly head time and again, and this menace must be curtailed sooner rather than later.”
Justice Sharma said sentences needed to provide both general and specific deterrence, “sending a clear warning to all that any breach of the law relating to drugs will not be tolerated and that no leniency will be extended to offenders.”
The judge also noted that Sauturaga was an Australian citizen who had entered Fiji for a holiday but “chose to engage in illegal activity”, describing his conduct as demonstrating “boldness in undermining the law and order of this country”.
Sauturaga must serve a minimum of 17 years before becoming eligible for parole. He has 30 days to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
