Five people will be produced at the Ba Magistrates Court today as investigations continue into the Vatia drug seizure.
Those charged include a 49-year-old foreign national, a 33-year-old unemployed woman, a 40-year-old boat captain, and two self-employed men aged 34 and 39. All are from Suva.
Following consultations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the five accused have each been charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Importation of Illicit Drugs, contrary to Section 49 of the Crimes Act 2009 and Section 8 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.
Police allege that between 1 November 2025 and 15 January 2026, in and around Fiji, the accused conspired among themselves and with others to unlawfully import, transport, transfer, and store 2,644 kilograms of illicit drugs.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, the foreign national faces two counts of Possession of Property Believed to be Proceeds of Crime, contrary to Section 70(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997.
The 33-year-old woman and the 34-year-old self-employed man have also each been charged with one count of Possession of Property Believed to be Proceeds of Crime under the same legislation.
Police say investigations are ongoing, with the Fiji Police Force team continuing to pursue further leads arising from the case.
