Surprise cash purchase tips cops to huge cocaine stash
Savannah Meacham |
A boat bought with $500,000 cash is what tipped police off to follow a group of men eventually caught in rough seas, allegedly importing a tonne of cocaine.
Police found it suspicious when a 13-metre-long motorboat was purchased with half a million dollars in cash in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire on April 28.
Two men, who are known to police, piqued the interest of detectives and, during a week-long investigation, officers tracked them and the boat from Sutherland north through Newcastle.
More intelligence led to officers intercepting the boat in the rough ocean off Nambucca Heads on the NSW coast on Friday.
It’s lucky the operation didn’t turn into a search and rescue situation due to the dangerous water conditions and lack of visibility, police say.
Once onboard the boat, officers made the shock discovery of 1110 blocks of cocaine wrapped in black tarps weighing more than a tonne.
Police estimate the haul is worth $623 million on the street.
Detectives are investigating whether the drugs were handed over from another boat in NSW or Queensland waters.
“This dismantled what we allege was a sophisticated criminal plot to import more than one tonne of cocaine into Australia,” Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto told reporters.
“Allegedly collecting hundreds of kilograms of cocaine at sea shows the lengths organised crime will go to for their own greed and profit.”
Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested onboard the boat, while another three men, aged 28, 29 and 35, were taken into custody on shore after officers stopped two cars trying to leave the area.
Police allege one of the men on shore helped to purchase the boat.
Further arrests have not been ruled out as police investigate the origin of the drugs.
Mr Dametto said previous incidents showed organised crime groups used certain methodologies such as purchasing large items with “unexplained wealth” to help with the mass delivery of drugs.
NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said the seizure would be a massive hit to organised crime.
“Someone today is out of pocket with significant amounts of money,” he said.
“And if you’re looking for a boat, I suggest you look at the pages when the Crime Commission sell this boat, because there’ll be one available.”
The two men onboard the boat have been charged with supplying a prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.
The three men on shore were charged with taking part in supplying a prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group.
All five faced Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday and were refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15.
AAP
