Court

The boat master cried when the drugs were discovered: Witness

January 29, 2019 2:01 pm

The fourth state witness Tomasi Drisi who gave evidence in the drug case of the Australian couple told the court that the master of the Yacht John Nikolic started crying when the boat was searched.

Drisi who is the chief customs officer says ten bars of white substance was discovered in a blue bag and Nikolic revealed there were three more bars.

The officer revealed that a search was conducted and the three bars along with arms and ammunitions were also found.

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He explains that these bars were taped using grey and black duct tape and was tested.

He says the first detector machine and field test were done on the white substance which revealed a positive test for cocaine powder.

The officer also told the court that Nikolic also requested if he could speak to his wife as she knew nothing about the presence of these drugs on board their Yacht Shenanigans.

He told the court that the search was conducted with health officials and Biosecurity officers as well.

The cocaine bars were shown in court today as part of evidence and verification.

Yvette and John Nikolic are jointly charged with two counts each of importing an illicit drug with two alternative counts of possessing an illicit drug.

They are also charged with a count each of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms license.

The couple were arrested after authorities seized 13 bricks of cocaine weighing 15 Kilograms as well as ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of $30 million from their yacht.

Officials also found $30,000 in undeclared currency, guns and ammunition on board.

The trial continues at Suva High Court before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar.