Australian national and local jailed for 14 years

An Australian national and a local convicted in the $23 million drug case have each been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the Lautoka High Court.

Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe found 30-year-old Australian national Joseph Abourizk and 50-year-old Josese Muriwaqa guilty of unlawful possession of drugs.

The court was informed that the two were found in possession of 49.9kg of cocaine in Vuda on the 13th of July last year.

The drugs were packed in 34 parcels wrapped with plastic wrappers and masking tape and were found inside a travelling bag and a suitcase.

While passing down the sentence, Justice Rajasinghe said it appears that this was a planned concealment of drugs in order to avoid the detection or attention of law enforcement authorities.

Justice Rajasinghe said by committing this crime, both of them have risked the lives of the people and the country in exposing them to the venomous and sinister consequences of infiltration of illicit drugs into the country.

He told Abourizk that he entered the country pretending to be a tourist visiting Fiji and on that ground he was allowed and welcomed by this country.

Justice Rajasinghe said having committed this crime, Abourizk has breached the guest and host relationship, and the trust and the friendliness extended to him by this country as a visitor.

Both men have been given a non-parole period of 12 years.