THE State last week filed a notice of motion seeking a disposal order for the destruction of 2644.5 kilograms of cocaine seized in the Vatia drug bust.
This is the case of Alejandro Gonzalez, Luciano Sanchez, Ramon Parraga, Jonathan Bermello and Anand Kumar, Bainivalu Suguturaga, Ponipate Mateyawa, John Toatala, Merewalesi Qolimaiwasa, Norman Fisher, Manasa Saladrau, and Anaseini Rokolati who are charged with unlawful importation and possession of illicit drugs, serious assault, and conspiracy.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku appeared jointly with Joeli Nasa before Justice Samuela Qica in the High Court in Ba.
Mr Rabuku told the court that the State intended to destroy the illicit drugs by December.
The court was told that the process would follow a similar procedure to the destruction of the 4.15 tonnes of methamphetamine in the case of Justin Ho and others, but the police must indicate any objections prior to finalising the plan.
The State requested each of the defence lawyers be granted seven days to consider whether they object to the destruction of the drugs.
Mr Rabuku told the court that the police must indicate their objections if any, prior to the finalisation of the destruction plan.
The other issue highlighted was whether the drugs could be retested and reweighed.
The court heard that other defence lawyers sought time to respond to the State’s motion.
Justice Qica said the destruction application could be heard earlier than the substantive matter.
Defence lawyer Shirley Tivao, representing Alejandro Gonzalez, Luciano Sanchez, Ramon Parraga, and Jonathan Bermello, indicated no objection to the destruction but requested a detailed plan of the execution process be provided.
Merewalesi Qolimaiwasa and Manasa Saladrau’s lawyer Uniaisi Baleilevuka told the court they were not challenging their caution interviews.
Justice Qica adjourned the matter to October 22 when the application for the destruction of the drugs will be heard, and the court will check on the filing of voir dire grounds.
