There is confirmation based on evidence presented in the $2 billion methamphetamine trial of the 9 convicted drug accused that three foreigners involved in this case were in their unflagged superyacht which was loaded with more than 4.5 tonnes of methamphetamine, the largest illicit drug consignment ever found in the Pacific.
High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge says the consignment was transferred to a local barge in the high seas and offloaded safely at Fantasy Island near Denarau.
It has been revealed that the consignment was then transferred to various locations undetected for more than three weeks until it was finally detected and seized by the police in two different places near Nadi, thanks to a local informant.
About 14 suspects were arrested and only nine of them were indicted on multiple counts.
The rest were either released or granted immunity to be made witnesses for the State.
According to prosecution witness, Ratu Isoa Dina who was the skipper of the barge, one of the accused, David Heritage wanted him to go with one of his boys and a Russian man.
They left Vuda Marina on 23rd December 2023, at around 1pm.
Dina said the Russian man was communicating with somebody using his satellite phone and was able to locate the yacht at about 6pm.
He revealed that on the yacht were two white men and a man who looked Mexican.
Dina confirmed that they moved closer, and the barge was tied to the yacht.
The Russian man then jumped onto the yacht.
The barge skipper said they then started offloading the sealed containers from the yacht to the Mobby-II.
The entire unloading process took nearly two hours.
Dina said he was scared during the offloading process because he suspected the containers contained drugs.
According to Dina, after the offloading was over, they headed back based on Devid Heritage’s instructions.
When they anchored, Heritage went to drop off the Russian man at Vuda Marina.
He returned with a truck onto which the containers were loaded.
Upon completion of the second trip, Heritage gave Dina $2,000 in addition to his captain's salary.
Dina says Heritage told him to relax because he had connections with the police, the army and the navy.
Dina said that the Russian man looked normal, and his presence did not intimidate him.
He said no one threatened him, but he got scared upon seeing the unloading.
The 9 accused persons charged in relation to the 4.1 plus tonnes of methamphetamine bust in Nadi have been found guilty by the Lautoka High Court, and their sentence hearing will take place on Friday.
Justin Ho, David Heritage, Louie Logaivau, Jale Aukerea, Sakiusa Tuva, Ratu Aporosa Davelevu, Ratu Osea Levula, Cathy Tuirabe and Viliame Colawaliku were charged with the importation and possession of 4.1 plus tonnes of methamphetamine between November 2023 and January 2024 in Nadi.
Additionally Justin Ho, Louie Logaivau and Jale Aukerea were charged with having property suspected of being the proceeds of a crime.
Justice Aruna Aluthge found the accused persons guilty of their respective charges.
Ratu Aporosa Davelevu and Louie Logaivau were found not guilty of count 6 for unlawful possession of illicit drugs and count 11 for possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Ho and David Heritage facilitated the importation of 4,800 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Heritage and Louie Frank Penijamini Logaivau are charged with unlawful possession Of illicit drugs on the 23rd of December 2023, at Fantasy Island, Nadi, without lawful authority.
Ho and Logaivau are also charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs in Denarau, Nadi.
They were in possession of 4,800 kilograms of methamphetamine. Logaivau and Ratu Aporosa Davelevu are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs between the 28th of December, 2023 and the 29th of December, 2023 in Nadi.
They engaged in the dealing for the transfer and transport of 4,800 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Logaivau and Ratu Aporosa Davelevu are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs on the 29th of December, 2023, at Motorex Yard, Nadi back road without lawful authority.
Sakiusa Tuva, Ratu Osea Levula, and Cathy Tuirabe are charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs between the 29th of December, 2023 to the 14th of January, 2024, in Nadi without lawful authority. They were engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of 4,800 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Jale Aukerea is charged with unlawful possession of illicit drug between 13th January 2024 to 20th January, 2024, in Nadi without lawful authority. He engaged in dealing for the transfer and transport of 1,100 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Justin Ho is also charged with possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime on 23rd January 2024 in Taveuni, possessed cash amounting to FJ$21,691.60, AUD$450.00 and USD$100.00 suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Logaivau is also charged with possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime on the 23rd of January 2024 in Taveuni. He possessed cash amounting to FJD$112.25 suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Jale Aukerea is charged with possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime on the 23rd of January 2024 in Taveuni.
He possessed cash amounting to FJD$2,100.85 suspected of being proceeds of crime.
An indepth look into the 4.5 tonnes drug bust in Nadi
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