Vatia Waters $3B cocaine bust accused remanded in custody

The six people including four Ecuadorian nationals and two Ba men who appeared in the Rakiraki Magistrates Court in relation to the 2.64 tonnes of cocaine at Vatia Wharf with an estimated street value of about $3 billion if sold in Australia, have been remanded in custody.

The six appeared before Rakiraki Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci.

47-year-old Luciano Enrique Mero Sanchez, 30 year old Jonathan Javier Solorzano Bermello, 52 year old Ramon Isidro Vega Parraga, and 47-year-old Alejandro Juvenal Yagual Gonzalez are each charged with one count each of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, unlawful possession of illicit drugs, and unlawful entry into Fiji.

24-year-old Bainivalu Suguturaga is charged with one count of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, two counts of unlawful possession of illicit drugs, and one count of serious assault while 32-year-old Munendra is charged with one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs and one count of serious assault.

The four Ecuadorian nationals have opted for Legal Aid, while Suguturaga is represented by Filimoni Daveta and Munendra is represented by Mohammed Yunis.

Deputy Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku is appearing for the State.

Magistrate Qalinauci also ordered that Suguturaga and Munendra be taken to the hospital for medical check as their lawyers said in court that they were assaulted during the arrest.

The case will be called again on the 5th of February at the Lautoka High Court at 9.30am.

Meanwhile Australia media have also reported that an alleged narco submarine was used to ferry more than two tonnes of cocaine to Vatia, and was destined for Australia.

However this was thwarted by authorities in Fiji. 

Police says in July 2025, the Fiji Police Force’s Serious Organised Crime and Intelligence Department received intelligence about a significant drug trafficking operation from South America, en route to Fiji.

The investigation, conducted in close collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, culminated in the interception of a shipment in December 2025.

Officers from CID, SOCID, and the Western Division Taskforce executed the raid on Thursday night.