The purchase of a boat using $500,000 in cash alerted the police to track down a group of individuals who were later apprehended amidst treacherous sea conditions, suspected of smuggling an estimated tonne of cocaine.
The police viewed it as unusual when a 13-meter long motorboat was bought for $500,000 in cash in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire on April 28.
Two individuals familiar to law enforcement caught the attention of investigators, and over the course of a weeklong probe, authorities monitored their movements as they navigated the vessel from Sutherland up towards Newcastle.
Greater intelligence resulted in officials stopping the vessel in choppy seas near Nambucca Heads along the New South Wales coastline on Friday.
Police say it was fortunate the procedure did not escalate into a search and rescue mission because of the hazardous aquatic environment and poor visibility.
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.
Police are examining if the narcotics were transferred from another vessel either off the coast of New South Wales or in Queensland waters.
“This undermined what we claim was a complex criminal scheme aimed at bringing over a tonne of cocaine into Australia,” stated Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto to journalists.
Purportedly amassing several hundred kilograms of cocaine offshore underscores how far organized criminals will venture in pursuit of personal gain and wealth.
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.
The police claim that one of the men on land assisted with buying the vessel.
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 stated that this confiscation would significantly impact organized crime.
He mentioned that someone is currently way over budget with large sums of cash.
“And if you’re searching for a boat, I recommend checking out the pages where the Crime Commission puts up their boats for sale, as one will likely be 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 individuals on land faced charges for their involvement in providing a banned substance—a substantial commercial amount—and for being part of a criminal organization.
All five appeared before Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday and had their requests for bail denied, with orders for them to attend Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15.
