A 40-year-old general manager from Tamavua, Shonal Sharma, has been granted release on a $5,000 cash bail following his court appearance related to the alleged importation of cocaine. Sharma was charged after a suspicious package, sent from Brazil, was intercepted on October 25. The package, which was labeled as a “smoke machine,” raised red flags during inspections when it was identified by a drug detection dog.
Upon further investigation, authorities discovered that the device contained a concealed motherboard. When opened, officials found approximately 640 grams of a white powdered substance, which preliminary tests confirmed to be cocaine. Following this discovery, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery, leading to Sharma’s arrest on October 30 at the company car park, where he was found in possession of the drugs.
Sharma’s court proceedings were held before Senior Magistrate Sufia Hamza, where he appeared alongside his legal representatives, including senior lawyers Devanesh Sharma, Gul Fatima, and Amrit Chand. While he has been released on strict conditions, the case has been adjourned until January 16, 2026, for further plea arrangements.
This incident is part of a broader initiative by Fijian authorities to tackle rising drug trafficking, as demonstrated by recent high-profile arrests connected to organized crime. The proactive stance taken by law enforcement agencies, including the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, illustrates their commitment to ensuring public safety and dismantling drug trafficking networks. As investigations progress, there remains a hopeful outlook that these efforts will contribute significantly to reducing drug-related offenses in the community.
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