Five to Appear in Court for Billion Dollar Drug Bust

Five people are expected to be produced at the Ba Magistrates Court today as part of ongoing investigations into the Vatia drug seizure, according to the Fiji Police Force.

Police said the accused include 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 from Suva.

Following consultations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Police confirmed that all five have been charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Importation of Illicit Drugs, contrary to Section 49 of the Crimes Act 2009 and Section 8 of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.

The Fiji Police Force alleges that between 1 November 2025 and 15 January 2026, in and around Fiji, the accused conspired among themselves and with others to unlawfully import, transport, transfer and store approximately 2,644 kilograms of illicit drugs.

Police further stated that the foreign national has been charged with two counts of Possession of Items Believed to be Proceeds of Crime, contrary to Section 70(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997.

In addition, the 33-year-old woman and the 34-year-old self-employed man each face one count of Possession of Items Believed to be Proceeds of Crime under the same legislation.

The Fiji Police Force says investigations are continuing, with officers actively pursuing further leads arising from the case.