In a surprising turn of events, the Nadi Magistrates Court in Fiji has granted bail to 13 individuals who were recently charged in connection with the seizure of a staggering 4,800 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value exceeding FJ$2 billion (NZ$1.68 billion) according to reports by RNZ. The accused have been released under strict conditions, including a curfew and mandatory reporting to the Nadi Police Station, according to reports by RNZ.
Among the accused is Justin Ho, a former national squash champion, and a prominent figure in the local sports community. The charges against the 13 individuals include unlawful importation and unlawful possession of illicit drugs, as well as possession of property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, all stemming from their alleged involvement in the importation and transportation of the illicit substances.
Other individuals facing charges alongside Ho include David Heritage (44 years old), Louie Frank Logaivau (22 years old), Issac Lesiyanawai (40 years old), Ratu Aporosa Davelevu (44 years old), Sakiusa Tuva (30 years old), Iosefo Roqica (29 years old), Maika Yabakivou (27 years old), Ratu Osea Levula (30 years old), Cathy Tuirabe (31 years old), Nancy Mateyawa (29 years old), Jale Aukerea (42 years old), and Keanie Mcpherson (29 years old) as reported by RNZ.
Notably, Justin Ho, Louie Frank Logaivau, and Jale Aukerea have also been charged with possession of cash in local and overseas currency, amounting to over US$11,000, which is suspected to have originated from the proceeds of their alleged criminal activities.
This high-profile case has drawn significant attention, not only for the immense quantity of methamphetamine involved but also due to the involvement of Ho, who has a notable background in sports. In a previous legal ordeal, Ho and Frederick Epeli, a Fiji Airways flight attendant at the time, were charged with exporting 2015.7 grams of cocaine to Sydney in 2018. However, both men were acquitted when the State failed to locate the crucial evidence—the drugs exhibit mysteriously went missing from the Namaka Police Station. Consequently, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed to discontinue proceedings in December 2020.
Fiji Police Assistant Police Commissioner (Crime) Mesake Waqa has revealed that Fiji was being exploited as a transit point for the methamphetamine, which was destined for a foreign market. The illicit drugs reportedly arrived in Fiji in late December, and the exchange of the massive shipment is believed to have occurred outside of Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with the packages being delivered via a barge.
Fiji police are actively collaborating with their foreign counterparts, including the Australian Federal Police and the Pacific Transnational Crime and Coordination Centre, with the expectation of making additional arrests related to this international drug trafficking operation. Assistant Commissioner Waqa emphasised that the Fiji Police Force would not provide further comments on the ongoing investigation until major developments occur. The case continues to captivate the public’s attention, as Fiji grapples with its role as a nexus in the global illicit drug trade.