The Fiji Revenue and Customs Services have informed the court that any vessel used in transporting illicit materials is liable to be forfeited to the state.

FRCS counsel made this remark while submitting that FRCS should be allowed to sell the yacht Shenanigans which has been in their custody since last year.

The FRCS was earlier given High Court permission to sell the yacht which was captured as part of a drug raid conducted on Australian Couple John and Yvette Nikolic last year.

John Nikolic was found guilty and sentenced to 23-years imprisonment and the FRCS took possession of the yacht which was used to smuggle cocaine and ecstasy worth $30 million.

Defense lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo today told the court that the vessel belonged to Yvette Nikolic and not her husband who was found guilty.

In response, the FRCS counsel told the court that under the Customs Act the yacht needs to be forfeited and the money will go back to the state.

The defense has been given 7 days to file additional submissions and FRCS has been given 7 days to respond.

The case will be recalled for ruling on this submission on notice.