Five individuals, Jonathan Hill, Ponipate Mateyawa, John Taotala, Iliesa Cokanasiga, and Merewalesi Qolimaiwaqa, have been further remanded by the Ba Magistrates Court after being charged with conspiracy to import illicit drugs. The charges state that between November 1, 2025, and January 15, 2026, the accused conspired to unlawfully import, transport, transfer, and store a significant quantity of 2,644 kilograms of illicit drugs within Fiji.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, foreign national Iliesa Cokanasiga faces two counts of possession related to items suspected to be proceeds of crime. He was reportedly arrested with six thousand dollars in cash. Similarly, Qolimaiwaqa and Taotala have been charged with possession of items also suspected of being proceeds from illegal activities; they allegedly possessed various items, including a Jet Land gasoline AVR generator worth $600, a Wotect raincoat valued at $26.25, an extension wire worth $12.50, and a hundred and two litres of fuel valued at $266.02.
Jonathan Hill has been similarly charged after being found with $1,000 at the time of his arrest. The case has now been transferred to the Lautoka High Court, where it is scheduled to be addressed on the fifth of next month.
The Fiji Police Force has indicated that their investigation is ongoing, suggesting that further arrests could occur as new leads are explored. This response signifies a strong commitment to tackling drug-related crime, which may contribute to enhancing public safety and reducing the illicit drug trade in the region.
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