Five individuals are set to appear at the Ba Magistrates Court today as investigations progress in relation to the significant Vatia drug seizure. Among those charged are a 49-year-old foreign national, a 33-year-old unemployed woman, a 40-year-old boat captain, and two self-employed men, aged 34 and 39, all hailing from Suva.
Following discussions with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), each of the accused faces a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Importation of Illicit Drugs, as outlined in Section 49 of the Crimes Act 2009 and Section 8 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004. The police allege that between November 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026, the accused conspired with each other and additional parties to unlawfully import, transport, transfer, and store a staggering 2,644 kilograms of illicit drugs.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, the foreign national is also facing two counts of Possession of Property Believed to be Proceeds of Crime, in accordance with Section 70(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997. Furthermore, both the 33-year-old woman and the 34-year-old self-employed man are similarly charged with one count of Possession of Property Believed to be Proceeds of Crime under the same legislation.
The Fiji Police Force has confirmed that their investigations are ongoing, continuing to follow new leads that have emerged from the case. This development highlights the authorities’ commitment to tackling drug-related crime and enforcing the law, signaling a firm stance against illicit activities in the region.
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