The State will continue with its prosecution of a businessman charged in connection with a shipment of cocaine allegedly sent from Brazil last year.
Shonal Sharma appeared before Magistrate Joseph Daurewa at the Sva Magistrate’s Court yesterday when prosecutor Eoghn Samisoni confirmed the State’s position.
In April this year, the State referred Mr Sharma’s file back to police for further investigation after the defence wrote to the prosecution seeking the withdrawal of the charge against him.
He is charged with a count of importation of illicit drugs.
It is alleged that the consignment, addressed to Mr Sharma’s company, arrived in the country on October 25, 2025.
The package, which was declared as a “smoke machine,” was flagged as suspicious after a drug detector dog sniffed it out during inspection. When the package was opened, officers discovered the device contained a motherboard with a black cover.
It is alleged that police discovered a white powdered substance hidden inside and preliminary tests confirmed it to be cocaine, weighing approximately 640 grams. Following the discovery, a controlled delivery was conducted.
On October 30, a police team intercepted a vehicle entering the company’s car park and arrested Mr Sharma.
His bail was extended with the case adjourned to July 21 for mention.
