Australians in tender for Nikolic drug yacht put for sale by Fiji Government

Shenanigans, the yacht used by former Melbourne horse trainer John Nikolic to smuggle $30 million of cocaine across the Pacific, is attracting more Australian attention with local bidders vying to buy it.

Twelve Australians are bidding to buy Shenanigans, the yacht used by former Melbourne horse trainer John Nikolic to smuggle $30 million of cocaine across the Pacific.

Australians make up nearly half of the 28 bidders for the boat, which is being sold by the Fiji Government.

Formerly owned by John Nikolic’s wife, Yvette, Shenanigans was seized by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) after drugs, money and guns were found stashed on board during a raid at Denarau Harbour on June 22 last year.

Tenders for the boat, which officially became the property of the FRCS last year when Yvette Nikolic lost a High Court challenge to have it returned to her, closed on August 30.

Yvette Nikolic, with husband John, tried to have the yacht returned to the family.

The catamaran was purchased in Ms Nikolic’s name for $335,000 from a Florida boat broker in late 2017.

An FRCS source said 28 offers — 12 from Australia — had been submitted for the fibreglass

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Lagoon 440 Cruising Catamaran, which was built in Bordeaux, France.

The yacht has been on dry dock at Vuda Marina near Lautoka for many months.

The Nikolics sailed Shenanigans from Florida to Colombia and across the Pacific to Fiji early last year, before it was raided.

While Yvette Nikolic was acquitted of all charges, John Nikolic Jnr was found guilty of drug smuggling and weapons offences and sentenced to 23 years in Fiji prison, with a minimum of 18.

He has appealed against his sentence, while the Fiji Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has appealed against Yvette Nikolic’s acquittal.