Indian national Muskaan Balaggan, who has been found guilty of attempting to export 521.6 grams of cocaine to Australia, has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment today.
US national Elton Xhemali has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight years for the same offence.
While sentencing the two, High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar said the association between Balaggan and Xhemali at a hotel was part of their common plan to take illicit drugs from Fiji to Australia where Xhemali was the facilitator and Balaggan was the courier.
Judge Goundar said that Fiji does not have a sophisticated intelligence service to detect drug smuggling and border security measures are not apt to deal with sophisticated drug smuggling.
He said that any punishment for dealing in hard drugs must reflect the vulnerability of Fiji becoming a hub for international drug smugglers.
Story by: Praneeta Prakash
Indian national jailed for 13 years
Related Stories
We are committed to holding elections – Siromi Turaga
Questions were raised during Dialogue Fiji’s Constitution review discussion on whether the government can delay the general elections and complete the Constitution review however Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga
Fijian economy on track to grow for fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4%
The Fijian economy is on track to grow for the fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4 percent, following a 3.5 percent expansion in 2024. The growth forecast is revised up marginally from the 3.2 percent projected
Heavy Rain Alert for Eastern Viti Levu, Southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and maritime areas
A heavy rain alert is now in force for the eastern half of Viti Levu (Navua–Suva–Nausori to Serua–Namosi to Tailevu–Naitasiri–Ra areas), southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, the Lau an
We need to dismantle criminal enterprises, hitting them where it hurts most - Speaker
Speaker of Parliament, Filimone Jitoko has highlighted during the opening of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Conference that there is a need for prosecutors in the country to master the digital frontie
Fiji has learned from its past and we know that restricting media engagement or access is not the answer - Tabuya
At all times, the public interest in accessing information and the media’s role in scrutinising government must outweigh any unilateral power to silence or sideline a news outlet. In Fiji, we uphold the principle that
Wailea resident raises concerns about drug issues raised countless times with Police while COMPOL says official complaint must be lodged
Wailea Settlement Community leader, Inoke Utona says he has raised the issue of drug use and dealing in their area countless times with the authorities but there has still been no response from Police. However when