A 40-year-old businessman from Lautoka has been re-arrested and charged with facilitating the export of over 39 kilograms of cocaine to Australia in 2019. Initially, he faced charges alongside another foreign national, but the case was paused when the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed a nolle prosequi.
The allegations state that the businessman orchestrated the transfer of drugs from the second suspect to Denarau, where they were then given to another foreign individual who was eventually arrested in Australia with the cocaine.
This case is part of a larger multi-agency operation that originally led to the arrests in 2019. Following a more in-depth investigation backed by the DPP’s Organized Crime Unit, the Lautoka businessman was re-arrested on December 20, 2025. He now faces charges of unlawful possession, supply of an illicit drug, and unlawful exportation of an illicit drug.
He is due to appear in Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday, December 22. Assistant Commissioner of Police Mesake Waqa remarked on the police’s determination to tackle the illegal drug trade and ensure that both local and international perpetrators are held accountable. Ongoing efforts, supported by INTERPOL, aim to locate the second suspect linked to this case. The reactivation of this case demonstrates the ongoing commitment to combating drug trafficking and enhancing public safety in the region.