Five charged after tonne of cocaine found on NSW boat
Officers will allege they uncovered 1.1 tonnes of cocaine on-board the boat that was heading towards the port at South West Rocks at 9.40am on Friday.
Police charged five men after intercepting a vessel off the NSW coast and seizing more than a tonne of cocaine, worth an estimated $623.4 million, in one of the state's biggest drug hauls.
Organised Crime Squad detectives launched the investigation after receiving intelligence about a suspicious purchase of a 13m motor cruiser, with a large sum of cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire on April 28.
Police tracked the movements of the vessel and those allegedly involved, monitoring the group as they travelled north along the coast before heading back towards South West Rocks.
On Friday morning, May 9, officers from the NSW Police Marine Area Command intercepted the vessel about 9.30am.
Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.
Police allege the vessel was carrying about 1110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tonnes. The drugs represent more than a million individual hits, with testing underway to confirm the exact weight and purity.
At the same time, three more men, aged 28, 29 and 35, were arrested onshore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area. They were taken to Taree Police Station.
Strike Force investigators and the AFP also executed search warrants at homes in Beresfield, Edgeworth, Belmont North, Cardiff South, and Catherine Hill Bay. Officers seized electronic devices, documents, clothing, communication devices and cash.
The two men arrested on the boat were charged with supplying a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.
The three men arrested onshore were charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.
All five appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, May 10, where they were refused bail. They are due to reappear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15.
NSW Police State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein, praised the co-ordinated police response, saying the arrests demonstrated how quickly officers could act to stop large quantities of drugs from reaching New South Wales.
'Whether on land or sea, NSW Police have the investigative capability to disrupt and undermine criminal enterprise,' Commissioner Weinstein said.
He said the seizure was the result of ongoing monitoring of organised crime methods and effective collaboration with law enforcement partners.
'Make no mistake, these drugs, if allowed to enter our communities, would have had devastating impacts on people's lives and social cohesion, particularly in regional townships,' he said.
'The New South Wales Police Force is committed to protecting our citizens and are proud of the work being done to shut down and suppress organised crime and place those responsible before the courts.'
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the success of the operation reflected the strong partnership between agencies and their ongoing mission to cripple criminal syndicates.
'The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community,' Commissioner Dametto said.
'Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today.'
He said Australia's expansive coastline remained a key target for traffickers, but law enforcement agencies were continuing to strike back.
'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,' he said.
'Importation of drugs via the sea is inherently dangerous, and criminals using this smuggling method risk both their freedom and their lives.'
Investigations into the source of the cocaine and possible links to other organised crime groups are continuing.
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