Six in court over record Fiji drug haul

6.00pm

Six people appeared in Suva Magistrates Court today charged with the unauthorised manufacture of methamphetamine after this week's billion dollar drug bust.

They were Yuen Yei Ha (aka Diane Yuen Zhong) and husband Zhong Qiang (aka Jason Zhong), Shing Sum Fok, Hon Keung Lam, Yuk Sang Lui and Charn Ming Chan.

A Fiji-born man who was arrested with the six others on Wednesday was not in court but was expected to be charged soon.

Police public relations officer Mesake Koroi said the man was believed to have established contact with the other six suspects arrested via a credit card fraud, Fijilive.com reported.

The six in court today were of Hong Kong Chinese descent but the couple, Jason and Diane Zhong, recently gained Fiji Citizenship.

Magistrate Salesi Temo transferred the case to be heard at the High Court on June 25.

Police on Wednesday seized chemicals capable of producing 1000kg of crystal methamphetamine, the party drug known as "ice" - worth about F$1 billion ($874.43 million).

Police from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand watched the warehouse in an industrial neighbourhood on the outskirts of Suva for 14 months, then moved in this week as part of Operation Outrigger.

Meanwhile the Fijian heat and overpowering chemical fumes are frustrating the work of New Zealand police dismantling the largest methamphetamine lab discovered in the southern hemisphere.

Six specially trained officers are at the warehouse at Laucala Beach in Suva to dispose of the illegal factory.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Potaka told NZPA from Suva today that the warehouse had been secured but the dismantling had not yet begun.

"The guys here can't stay in here too long, which is a bit of a problem, because of the fumes... you've got a lot of things like acetone, which give off a very pungent smell."

Mr Potaka said the Fijian heat was also causing "a bit of problem" for his team.

"They have to get suited up into special gear and they sweat a lot under there."

The chemicals would likely be disposed of by Fiji-based chemical companies and the entire job would take another 10 to 14 days, he said.

Six others have been arrested in Malaysia and one man has been charged with money-laundering in Hong Kong, it was earlier reported.

Thirteen other people from various countries were being questioned in connection with the bust.

Police had been watching the warehouse for 14 months and a nearby business had tipped them off after an "irritating smell" was detected on the industrial estate.

A local business owner had taped suspicious night-time activity at the warehouse and luxury cars had often been seen coming and going, the Fijilive website reported.

Acting crime manager Detective Superintendent Larry Reid, of Wellington, told NZPA yesterday he had not ruled out the possibility of future arrests in New Zealand.

- Herald staff