Ratu Osea Levula will spend 17 years in prison, but has been given a non-parole period 13 years.
He was found guilty by the Lautoka High Court on charges of unlawful possession of illicit drugs in relation to the historic 4.15-tonne methamphetamine bust.
The court heard evidence that placed Levula at a property in Voivoi, Legalega, where he was involved in handling and packaging the large consignment of drugs.
While he maintained during his testimony that he was merely a worker hired for yard work and was unaware of the contents of the containers, the prosecution’s evidence contradicted this.
A state witness who was granted immunity in the case testified that Levula, along with co-accused Sakiusa Tuva and Cathy Tuirabe, was actively involved in wrapping and preparing the drug packages.
The witness also stated that Levula and Tuirabe had posed as a couple to avoid raising suspicion among neighbors while working at the property.
Levula, along with several other co-accused, was classified by the prosecution as a “lower-tier” offender in the drug syndicate.