Shaneil Suresh Autar, a businessman from Lautoka, faced a setback in court after Magistrate Jeremiah Savou denied his bail application yesterday at the Nadi Magistrate’s Court. Autar, who is 40 years old, was recharged for his alleged involvement in exporting 39.36 kilograms of cocaine to Australia back in 2019.
During the court proceedings, Prosecutor Joeli Nasa did not oppose the bail request but urged the imposition of stringent conditions. These conditions included a $2,000 cash bail, a stop departure order, mandatory reporting to the Nadi Police Station every two weeks, and the surrender of travel documents, with a prohibition on leaving Viti Levu. However, Magistrate Savou deemed the case too complex and rejected Autar’s bail application, stating that it would be transferred to the High Court in Lautoka.
Autar’s legal troubles began in 2019, when he was initially charged alongside a foreign national, although the case was previously discontinued after the Director of Public Prosecution filed a nolle prosequi. Allegations suggest that Autar orchestrated the transfer of illegal drugs from his co-accused to a location in Denarau, where they were later handed over to another foreign national who was subsequently arrested upon arriving in Australia.
The case has seen renewed attention from the authorities, as the Criminal Investigations Department and the Serious Organised Crime and Intelligence Department have revisited the charges. With the assistance of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s organized crime unit, Autar was arrested and recharged last Saturday with one count of Unlawful Possession and Supply of Illicit Drugs, and one count of Unlawful Exportation of Illicit Drugs. The police are also intensifying their efforts, with INTERPOL’s support, to apprehend the other suspect involved in the case.
Autar has been given a period of 28 days to file an appeal, and the matter is set to be called again on January 5, 2026. The developments in this case highlight ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region, and bring those accused of such serious offenses to justice.
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