A crew member who was kicked off John and Yvette Nikolic’s luxury yacht just weeks before an alleged $20million drug bust believes he is lucky to have escaped prison.
John Nikolic, 45, is still believed to be fighting for life in hospital after reportedly drinking a toxic substance following a dramatic drug arrest on the Shenanigans boat.
Fijian police allegedly found 13 bars of cocaine worth $20million, $15,000 worth of ecstasy tablets, $20,000 cash, two handguns and 97 rounds of ammunition on the boat.
A crew member who was kicked off John and Yvette Nikolic (pictured)’s luxury yacht just weeks before alleged $20 million drug bust believes he is lucky to have escaped prison.
Mark Shea told The Herald Sun when he got on the boat he was told not to approach the couple’s room.
‘I was told not to go anywhere near their room. I’d love to know where they found the drugs,’ he said.
Mr Shea told the publication he dodged a bullet when he was kicked off the boat, after the Nikolics responded to his advert looking for work.
‘I could be in prison in Fiji right now. I was very lucky,’ he said.
‘I dodged a huge bullet being kicked off…for inexperience.’
Fijian authorities are seen searching the vessel following the arrest of the Nikolics and two others
Nikolic, an Australian horse trainer, and his wife claimed to be on a romantic trip of a lifetime when Fiji police swooped on their luxury yacht.
Yvette is behind bars charged with importing millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine and firearms.
Yvette is said to have begged the magistrate in court to let her see her critically ill husband at Lautoka hospital, amid reports he had attempted to self-harm.
Yvette begged the magistrate in court to let her see her critically ill husband at Lautoka hospital
In the lead up to their arrest, the pair posted dozens of loved-up snaps aboard their yacht, sharing their adventures at sea as they sailed from South America en route to Queensland, predicting ‘good things were on their way’.
‘And we’re off. Just the two of us. See ya Columbia! Panama we’re coming for you,’ they wrote on Facebook early in their voyage, including a ‘feeling positive’ emoji in the post.
‘Bye bye Panama and bye bye land for about four weeks. Pacific Ocean bound,’ the pair later wrote, with several friends urging them to ‘stay safe’.
Pictures showed the couple fishing and sun baking as they visited numerous islands in French Polynesia, before heading towards Denerau in Fiji earlier this month.
It is believed the pair had planned to travel from the South Pacific archipelago before setting sail for the Gold Coast, Queensland, where they are based.
‘And we’re off. Just the two of us. See ya Columbia! Panama we’re coming for you,’ the pair wrote on Facebook. John Nikolic is pictured
Fijian police allegedly found 13 bars of cocaine worth $20 million, $15,000 worth of ecstasy tablets, $20,000 of cash, two handguns and 97 rounds of ammunition on the boat
In the lead-up to their voyage, the Nikolics described themselves as ‘newbie’ sailors.
‘John and Yvette have been madly in love for 25 years. The love of sailing, however, is a new passion for both of them,’ their Facebook page reads.
‘This crazy plan has been in the works for about one-and-a-half years. We are newbie sailors and this is our first boat. Steep learning curve you say? Damn straight!’
The Nikolic family has previously seen its fair share of controversy.
In 2015, John Nikolic was banned from attending racecourses and Melbourne’s Crown Casino following a series of scandals.
John and Yvette Nikolic posted dozens of loved-up snaps aboard their luxury yacht (pictured)
In the lead up to their voyage, the Nikolics (pictured) described themselves as ‘newbie’ sailors
‘We are newbie sailors and this is our first boat. Steep learning curve you say? Damn straight!’ the pair posted
He was caught treating a horse with prohibited substance when he rubbed penetrene, a non-performance enhancing product, with an absorbent pad onto Wonderful Jester just moments before the horse won a race.
A year prior to this he was banned for 12 months from racecourses after the same horse tested positive for a prohibited substance, gabapentin.
John Nikolic was also questioned during the investigation into the 2011 murder of Victorian racing figure Les Samba, but was released without charge.
He is the brother of disgraced jockey Danny Nikolic, who was banned from riding in late 2012 for threatening behaviour towards racing stewards.
John Nikolic (pictured) was arrested after police allegedly seized drugs and guns on his boat in Fiji
The Shenanigans yacht is pictured before the police raid which allegedly uncovered a huge haul of drugs and gins
In 2015, John Nikolic was banned from attending racecourses and attending Melbourne’s casino following a series of scandals
Fijian customs chief Visvanath Das said the arrests were a testament to the commitment of the national police force.
‘I applaud the collaboration and efforts of our officers in successfully intercepting illicit drugs, undeclared currency and weapons,’ he said.
The statement also said the arrests were a warning to foreign drug-smugglers.
Police commissioner Rusiate Tudravo said: ‘This should send a strong warning to others that we have a close eye on our borders.’
A Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said that they have consular staff providing assistance to the Nikolic family.
Two others, understood to be a Frenchman and an American, were also arrested.
For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.
Fijian customs chief Visvanath Das said Thursday’s arrests was a testament to the commitment of the national police force. An interior shot of the Nikolic’s boat is pictured
John Nikolic was questioned during the investigation into the 2011 murder of racing figure Les Samba (pictured with daughter Victoria and wife Deidre), but was released without charge
Nikolic is the brother of disgraced jockey Danny Nikolic (pictured), who was banned from riding in late 2012 for threatening behaviour towards racing stewards