Barge owner reveals details on how Heritage hired his barge for the December 2023 meth pick up

One of the 9 convicted persons in the $2 billion methamphetamine trial, David Heritage had approached David Wright, a person who runs a barge business in Vuda as he wanted to charter Wright’s barge in December 2023.

This barge was later used by Heritage to pick up the 4.5 tonnes of methamphetamine from an unflagged superyacht.

According to the court evidence, prosecution witness Wright said that the stated purpose given to him by Heritage was to deliver some food and fuel to a yacht in the Yasawas.

While giving evidence in the High Court, Wright confirmed he owns the barge called 'Mobby II'.

He said that he had agreed and gave the barge with his crew, headed by Ratu Isoa Dina

Heritage paid $3,000 in cash and requested that the food and fuel be delivered to the yacht before sunrise.

Wright said he arranged his crew to leave before midnight on 21st December 2023.

They embarked on the journey and returned to Vuda Marina on the 22nd with the same load of diesel and bags.

He said Heritage then explained that he had been given the wrong coordinates and wanted Wright’s barge to be chartered again, for which he was paid an additional $3,000.

After the barge left Vuda on the second charter, Wright said he was worried because it could not be contacted for some time. Eventually, he received a call from Heritage seeking permission to stay the night at Malolo Island and return to Vuda the next morning.

Wright said upon his return to Vuda, Heritage contacted him again to organise another charter, saying they needed to take some rubbish off the same yacht.

Wright said that he arranged the third charter upon the transfer of $3,000 to his account.

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.