11 charged with Vatia drug bust remanded in custody, to appear again on 27th this month

The 11 people charged in relation to the $3 billion Vatia cocaine seizure have been remanded in custody.

The 11 people appeared before Ba High Court Judge Justice Samuela Qica this morning.

34 year old fitness trainer Jonathan Hill, 39 year old Ponipate Mateyawa, 49 year old from New Zealand John Taotala, 40 year old boat captain Iliesa Cokanasiga, and 33 year old Merewalesi Qolimaiwasa case have all been charged with a count of conspiracy to commit importation of illicit drugs. 

It is alleged that between 1st November, 2025 and 15th January, 2026, in and around Fiji, the five accused conspired amongst themselves and with others to unlawfully import, transport, transfer and the storage of 2644 kg of illicit drugs. 

Taotala has been charged with two counts of possession of items believed to be proceeds of crime. 

Hill and Qolimaiwasa have each been charged with a count of possession of items believed to be proceeds of crime. 

Their case were called first before the second case was called which included the two locals and four Ecuadorian nationals.

The second case includes 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 who are each charged with one count each of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, unlawful possession of illicit drugs, and unlawful entry into Fiji.

According to State Lawyer, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku, 21-days has been given to the State to file information and disclosures and to also think about the immunity issues and the consolidation issues if they want to.

He says the people from Ecuador do not have lawyers yet as they still have not applied for Legal Aid counsel, so they do not have lawyers.

 
Rabuku says Legal Aid is trying to see whether they are able to get a hold of an interpreter, so that they can then get instructions from them.

He adds the Judge has told the suspects that they are at liberty to apply for bail, however,  he told the court that everybody should just quiet down for a while as it is a massive case.

The Deputy DPP says the State will provide disclosures and information first , so that they have the opportunity to read the evidence against their client.

He says the State will be strongly objecting to bail given the strength of their case as the suspects are facing sentences over 20 years.

He adds that given the terms of sentences, the likelihood to abscond is very high. 

Rabuku says the court will also have to take into account public interest concerns and allowing these people out on bail at this point is too early.

He also added that from the Justin Ho case, they did not get out on bail until about 7 or 8 months. 

The case will be called again on the 27th of this month at the Ba High Court.