Fugitive extradited over foiled people-smuggling plot
Laine Clark |
A fugitive bikie at the centre of an alleged people-smuggling plot using a luxury yacht will remain behind bars after being extradited interstate.
Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek, 32, has been remanded in custody after his matter was briefly mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court following an alleged attempt to traffic him out of Australia on the high seas.
Tuckwell-Cvek was extradited to Queensland after a yacht bound for Indonesia was intercepted off the Western Australian coast on Monday.
Cass Williams, 46, and Jessica Beckett, 45, allegedly travelled from Queensland in May and crewed a newly purchased yacht from Perth to Exmouth, where they met Tuckwell-Cvek in a bid to smuggle him out of the country.
Tactical response group police intercepted the vessel carrying the trio about 50km off the coast of Exmouth, about 1250km north of Perth.
Queensland Police said on Friday they had successfully extradited Tuckwell-Cvek on return to prison and drug trafficking arrest warrants.
The alleged Queensland outlaw motorcycle gang member was also wanted for questioning over multiple serious crimes, police said.
His matter in court on Friday related to allegations of trafficking dangerous drugs, assault occasioning bodily harm, unlicensed driving and evading police.
The matter was adjourned until July 6, when Tuckwell-Czek is expected to appear via video link.
He did not appear in court and there was no application for bail on Friday.
A joint organised crime taskforce comprised of WA police, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC started investigating the group in May.
Williams and Beckett have been charged with attempted people smuggling, marking the first time anyone in WA has been charged with the offence.
NSW woman Fatma Skaf, 40, was also charged with attempted people smuggling after being accused of driving Tuckwell-Cvek to an Exmouth boat ramp ahead of the voyage.
AAP