Five people have been charged following the seizure of more than a tonne of cocaine allegedly located on board a vessel off the New South Wales coast. The seized cocaine equates to over a million individual hits, with an estimated potential street value of $623.4m, according to a joint statement between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and New South Wales Police Force.
Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and escorted to shore by the police vessel. They were taken to Coffs Harbour police station.
Police allege approximately 1,110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tonnes, were located on the vessel.
Simultaneously, three people aged 28, 29 and 35 were arrested on shore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area. They were taken to Taree police station.
The NSW police force obtained intelligence in relation to the suspicious purchase of a 13m motor cruiser, with a large sum of cash, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire on Monday, April 28.
The State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad commenced an investigation under Strike Force Blaine targeting drug supply and money laundering.
Strike Force investigators in collaboration with the NSW Crime Commission and Australian Federal Police gathered information on those involved which led them to focus on the movements of the vessel and persons associated with the group.
With the assistance of specialist NSW Police resources and the AFP, officers continued to monitor the activities of the group as they travelled north via Nelson Bay and Port Macquarie.
As the vessel travelled back to shore towards South West Rocks it was intercepted on May 9 by the marine area command about 9.30am.
Forensic specialists are currently examining the seized drugs and will be conducting further testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs.
Strike Force investigators assisted by the AFP subsequently executed four search warrants at homes in the Newcastle suburbs of Beresfield and Edgeworth, Belmont North and Cardiff South, seizing electron devices, documents and clothing.
A further search warrant was executed by the AFP at a home at Catherine Hill Bay, where they seized communications devices and cash.
The two men at Coffs Harbour were charged with supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group.
The three men at Taree were charged with take part in supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group.
They all appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on May 10, where they were all formally refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday, July 15.
Investigations into the origin of the drugs and the groups alleged associates remain ongoing.
AFP assistant commissioner Stephen Dametto said Australian law enforcement agencies were committed to crippling and dismantling organised crime groups motivated by greed and indifferent to the devastation caused by their actions.
“The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community. Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today,” assistant commissioner Dametto said.
“Australia’s vast coastline is attractive to organised crime groups, who attempt to exploit this by trying to import drugs using boats. The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organised crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity.
“Importation of drugs via the sea are inherently dangerous, and criminals using this smuggling method risk both their freedom and their lives.”
