Lautoka High Court told Sakiusa Tuva that he failed in his civic duty to report the illegal activities to the police.
Mr Tuva was to 25 years imprisonment with an 18-year non-parole period by Justice Aruna Aluthge.
“You also played a ‘significant role’ in the operation. You are a trusted associate and handyman of Jale Aukerea and a step below the leader in culpability,” said the judge.
“You played an upper-range significant role doing a managerial level function of transferring drugs, procuring storage/vehicles and recruiting people under the direction and close supervision of Jale.”
“You acted with some awareness and understanding of the scale of the operation and entertained a degree of operational autonomy in managerial functions.”
“You unpacked and prepared assorted packets of methamphetamine and kava with Cathy, apparently to be sold in the local market.”
The court set a starting point of 28 years imprisonment.
“Having considered the role you played, the enormity, the purity and the street value of the methamphetamine consignment, I would pick 28 years imprisonment as the starting point of your sentence.”
The judge acknowledged Mr Tuva’s limited financial gain.
“You bore disproportionate risk when compared to the reward, perhaps because of blind loyalty towards your cousin.”
Aggravating factors included Mr Tuva’s failure to report the illegal activities and his recruitment of youths into the drug trade.
“It is aggravating that you failed in your civic duty to report the illegal activities to the police. You exposed the youths to a great risk when you recruited them for an illegal activity. You benefited from the ill-gotten money.”
Justice Aluthge highlighted Mr Tuva’s cooperation.
“You cooperated with the police and the Prosecution to solve one of the devastating crimes committed in this jurisdiction. You gave the location of the Maqalevu methamphetamine storage that led to the raid and the arrest of Jale Aukerea.”
The judge also noted Mr Tuva’s remorse.
“I accept you showed genuine remorse by pleading guilty to the charges, albeit not at the first available opportunity. I am informed by your Counsel that after being bailed for this matter, you took progressive steps to rehabilitate yourself by helping to initiate an awareness program called ‘Say No to Drugs’ in your community in Votualevu.”
Mr Tuva’s personal circumstances were also considered by the judge.
“You are 31 years of age, married with 3 children. Prior to being entangled in the underworld drug business, you worked faithfully as a carpenter.”
“You could not resist your cousin Jale’s request, which came with an attractive package which you saw as a great opportunity to upgrade your living standard and help your sickly father, who was undergoing dialysis at Aspen.”
“You are young and have a greater potential for rehabilitation. To balance your rehabilitation potential with other sentencing purposes, especially deterrence, I impose a non-parole period of 18 years.”