A 40-year-old general manager has received an extension of bail in connection with allegations of cocaine importation from Brazil. Shonal Sharma, residing in Tamavua, Suva, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Vinaina Diroiroi yesterday. The case has been scheduled for mention on March 3.
Sharma is charged with unlawfully importing illicit drugs following the discovery of a suspicious shipment linked to his company. The consignment arrived in Fiji on October 25, and was declared as a “smoke machine.” It was flagged during inspection after a drug detection dog indicated the presence of narcotics.
Upon further examination, officers reportedly found a device labeled as a smoke machine which contained a motherboard concealed within a black cover. A deeper inspection uncovered a white powdered substance hidden inside, which preliminary tests later confirmed to be cocaine, weighing approximately 640 grams.
Following the discovery, police conducted a controlled delivery and subsequently intercepted a vehicle in the company’s parking lot on October 30, leading to Sharma’s arrest. This development highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to tackle drug importation and ensure the safety of the community.