A NSW man has been refused bail after being charged with allegedly importing 200kg of cocaine last week when police found drugs on the catamaran he was sailing near the Queensland-NSW border.
The Tweed Heads man, 41, faced the NSW Bail Division Court on Friday 17 April, charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of drugs.
He will next appear in the same court on 12 June.
Image: AFP
Police are investigating an alleged transnational plot by a syndicate with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs to sail cocaine into Australian waters before being transferred to local vessels.
Authorities have alleged the cocaine haul was hidden inside black duffel bags on board the catamaran, along with $100,000 in cash.
The Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (GC JOCTF), comprised of officers from the AFP, QPS, ABF and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), as well as NSWPF, intercepted the private boat sailing into the Tweed River, just south of the Queensland border, on 16 April.
QPS Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Phelps said the QPS was committed to working in partnership with federal and interstate counterparts to disrupt the supply of drugs into Queensland.
“Outcomes like this highlight the significant results that can be achieved through collaborative interagency efforts,” Det a/Supt Phelps said.
The catamaran had sailed from the Tweed River on 14 April, before it travelled north and turned its transponder off.
Authorities allege the catamaran collected the drugs at sea, before sailing back towards the coast and turning its transponder back on before returning to the Tweed River.
NSWPF Marine Area Command operatives from Tweed Heads intercepted the vessel in the river and towed it to a secure location, where it was searched and examined by specialist forensic officers.
GC JOCTF and NSWPF investigators then made multiple raids across southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
NSW Police State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said this result highlighted the strength of partnerships across jurisdictions.
“The Marine Area Command worked seamlessly with our federal and state partners to bring this operation to a safe and successful conclusion," he said.
“The interception of this vessel demonstrates the extent of the resources and capabilities the New South Wales Police possess to target and disrupt those attempting to harm the community.”
Ongoing investigations are yet to determine the vessel and crew responsible for transporting the drugs into Australian waters and to identify other syndicate members. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
AFP Detective Inspector Steven Wiggins said the successful multi-agency operation highlighted the collective strength of Australian law enforcement.
“Transnational criminal syndicates have reaped huge profits by feeding Australia’s demand for illicit drugs however the AFP and our partners are always watching and remain one step ahead,” Det Insp Wiggins said.
“The AFP’s strong relationships with domestic and international partners ensure that we continue to deliver maximum impact on transnational criminal syndicates targeting Australia.”
ACIC National Manager Collection Operations North Boyd Doherty said the ACIC was committed to targeting the highest-level organised crime actors.
“The threat posed by serious and organised crime is real, pervasive and damaging,” Mr Doherty said.