Denarau drug, firearms smuggling suspect still in hospital

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AN AUSTRALIAN national allegedly involved in the discovery of firearms and illicit drugs on a yacht in Denarau last week, remains admitted at the Lautoka Hospital.

Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said John Nikolic was recovering and yet to be questioned.

She said he was hospitalized after allegedly consuming an unknown substance during the raid on the yacht – Shenanigans – where cocaine, ecstasy tablets and firearms were uncovered.

His wife Yvette Nikolic appeared in the Nadi Magistrates Court last week.

She was charged with one count of unlawful importation of illicit drugs, one count of found in possession of illicit drugs and one count of failure to declare firearms and ammunition.

Mrs Nikolic will reappear at the Lautoka High Court on Wednesday.

The joint operation by border enforcement agencies led to seizure of cocaine and ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of $US10 to $15m (FJD $20.9m-$31.4m) from an unidentified yacht, believed to be owned by the accused.

The drug and gun bust involved the Fiji Police Force, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).

According to FRCS, the yacht came from Borabora, French Polynesia.

Shenanigans is currently under the custody of the State.

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