Gold Coast yacht drug bust.. again

A joint operation between law enforcement partners has resulted in the arrest of five people and seizure of approximately 70 kilograms of cocaine from a yacht in Queensland.

Organised crime syndicates using yachts and similar vessels have shipped cocaine to Australia through the South Pacific region before.

On Aug 23, 2013, a yacht bound for Australia was found to be smuggling 750kg of cocaine worth an estimated $370 million.

Since 2010, six yachts have been busted in the South Pacific with over two tonnes of drugs aboard.

In October 2010, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Customs collected 464kg of cocaine from a luxury yacht moored at Scarborough, a sleepy marina north of Brisbane.

A German mechanic and a Costa Rican diving instructor were alleged to have sailed a catamaran full of coke from South America and transferred it mid-ocean to a 12m yacht

Then in November 2011, Australian law enforcement agencies dealt a significant blow to an international organised crime syndicate, arresting four Spanish nationals and seizing 300kg of cocaine from a yacht in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Authorities also seized more than $3 million in cash during related search warrants carried out in Bundaberg, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

You can read our reports about previous yachting drug busts in Queensland here.

This latest bust is another investigation that involved a collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF) and Queensland Police Service (QPS).

Australian authorities commenced the investigation, code-named Operation Lamister, earlier this month based on intelligence provided through the UK National Crime Agency (NCA).

Information suggested a yacht, The Solay, was allegedly involved in transporting a substantial quantity of cocaine from South America into Australia.

The yacht was identified departing Vanuatu, bound for Australia on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

The ABF monitored the vessel on its journey to Australia, with assistance from the QPS. The Solay arrived in the Coomera area of the Gold Coast on the morning of Monday, August 24, 2015.

It will be alleged in court that upon arrival in a Coomera inlet, the 43-year-old Estonian master and sole occupant of The Solay met a 58-year-old United Kingdom national, and both men purchased a number of tools to remove items hidden inside the body of the vessel.

COOMERA MARINA TRANSFERS
70kg of cocaine 'ballast' in the Bavaria 44
At approximately 5.45pm yesterday, the two men allegedly left the vessel with duffle bags and travelled by car to another Coomera location. A short time later, their car was then met by three other men driving in two vehicles.

AFP members arrested all five men and discovered approximately 40 kilograms of a substance believed to be cocaine inside one of the vehicles. A subsequent search of the yacht docked at the Coomera River marina located approximately 30 kilograms of a substance that presumptively tested positive to cocaine concealed within the yacht.

It is estimated this consignment would be worth approximately $17.5 million.

AFP Commander Organised Crime David Stewart said law enforcement partners would continue to work together to disrupt the activities of organised crime groups.

"A united approach from law enforcement and border protection agencies – both in Australia and internationally – is crucial in detecting and dismantling organised criminal networks," Commander Stewart said.

"We believe this operation has disrupted and caused significant damage to a number of organised criminal enterprises that are seeking to profit from the high prices and demand for illegal narcotics in Australia."

INTEL ACROSS THE PACIFIC
Cruising yachties are being watched across the Pacific
ABF Commander South Pacific, Phil Brezzo, said the operation shows the importance of cooperation and shared intelligence across the South Pacific to target small craft vessels.

"The Australian Border Force is vigilant across the full spectrum of the border. We are agile and adept at identifying and disrupting attempts at illegal importation regardless of method: whether that involves airports, seaports, mail centres or anywhere in between," Commander Brezzo said.

"While these drugs may sell for a hefty price on the streets, the price importers pay when they get caught can be up to life in prison. Ask yourself, is that really worth the risk?"

QLD Police Service Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker State Crime Command said: "This Operation has resulted in a significant seizure of an illicit drug and the QPS will continue to work collaboratively with its law enforcement partners to prevent this type of drug having an impact on our community."

THE CHARGES
A 43-year-old man and a 58-year-old man have been charged with:
>> Importation of a commercial quantity of a Border Controlled Drug under Section 307.1 Criminal Code 1995
A 59-year-old man, 67-year-old man and 29-year-old man have been charged with:
>> Attempt Possession of a commercial quantity of a unlawfully imported Border Controlled Drug under Section 307.5(1) Criminal Code 1995 and by virtue of Section 11.1 Criminal Code 1995.
The men appeared in Southport Magistrates Court today with respect to these charges and were remanded into custody.
The maximum penalty for each offence is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.

Australian law enforcement would also like to acknowledge the support provided to this operation by European authorities, including Irish Tax and Customs, the French National Customs Intelligence and Investigations Directorate (DNRED) and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N).