Meth set for Australian shores seized in Fiji, Paradise Island: Accused bailed

A Fiji court has granted bail to all 13 people charged in relation to the biggest drug smuggling bust in the nation’s history. The FJ$2bn worth of meth was allegedly destined for Australia.

Some of the drugs seized in the $2bn haul, which is the biggest drug bust in Fiji’s history.

A Fiji court has granted bail to all 13 people charged in relation to the biggest drug bust in Fiji’s history, with the FJ$2bn worth of methamphetamine allegedly en route to Australia before police swooped.

Among the 13 accused granted bail by a Nadi court on Monday were former squash champion Justin Ho, 32, and David Heritage, 44, who face drug smuggling charges.

They have been ordered to appear with the 11 other accused in the Lautoka High Court this Friday, and placed under a curfew until then.

Authorities have confirmed a person from a country other than Fiji is among the accused and there are connections to a known drug syndicate.

Australian Federal Police played a key part in investigations leading to the Nadi seizure of the 4,800kg of drugs, in December last year.

Australian Border Force Offshore Network counsellor Uriah Turner said the drug bust would have a huge impact on syndicates seeking to smuggle drugs through Fiji to Australia in the future, the Fiji Times reported.

“It gets those drugs off the street, and it really does have an impact on the syndicates that are seeking to import drugs into Fiji, but also across to Australia,” Mr Turner said.

The drug bust is set to have a huge impact on syndicates seeking to smuggle drugs through Fiji to Australia in the future.

“We know that a lot of drugs do get sent from other countries and a lot of the time, due to the price that people are willing to pay, a lot of it is destined for … countries such as Australia and New Zealand.”

A barge was allegedly used to transport the drugs, with a street value of $2bn in Fiji dollars and $1.31bn in Australian currency.

David Heritage and Louie Logaivau were allegedly found with methamphetamines on December 23 last year, on Fiji’s Fantasy Island.

There were 13 people arrested, including a foreigner. They have all now been bailed.

The 13 accused face a variety of charges, including drug smuggling, unlawful possession of an illicit drug and possession of property or cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime – relating to the importation and transportation of drugs.

According to Fiji media, three of the accused were allegedly trying to flee the country.

An AFP spokesman said the organisation had been helping the Fiji Police Force with intelligence and specialist technical support for the past month with the investigation.

It is now assisting with forensic and digital forensic elements of the inquiry.

Fiji and other Pacific Islands have for some years been a staging post for big Australian-bound narcotics shipments.

“Unfortunately, the demand and high prices for illicit drugs across the world creates a market for the large cartels who are growing/manufacturing these dangerous drugs,” an AFP statement said.

“The demand for illicit drugs in Australia is not new. There have been many examples over the years of Pacific countries being used as transit points for illicit drugs.”

Transnational crime syndicates regard Australia as among the world’s most lucrative drug markets.

On Monday, Fiji Police assistant police commissioner Mesake Waqa confirmed “Fiji was being used as a transit point and that the methamphetamine was destined for a foreign market”.

Mr Waqa said the drugs arrived in Fiji in late December and the exchange of the shipment was made outside of Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with the packages delivered by barge.