A Tweed Heads man is behind bars, accused of importing around 200kg of cocaine on a sailing vessel as part of a transnational crime syndicate.
The man left Tweed Heads on board a catamaran on Tuesday and headed north before the vessel’s transponder was turned off.
Police will allege the man used the catamaran to collect the drugs at sea before returning.
The vessel was intercepted on the Tweed River and towed to a secure location where it was searched.
About 200kg of cocaine was allegedly uncovered inside black duffel bags, along with around $100,000 in cash.
Officers from the Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Taskforce and New South Wales Police then carried out search warrants at a number of properties in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Image: Supplied
The 41-year-old man has been charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
He faced court on Friday and was refused bail to reappear on June 12.
Investigations into the vessel from which the drugs were picked up from and its crew are continuing, with Police not ruling out further arrests.
“These imports are orchestrated and coordinated by organised crime with the sole intention of generating profit, with little regard to the harm caused to our community,” Queensland Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Phelps said.
“Outcomes like this highlight the significant results that can be achieved through collaborative interagency efforts.”
Australian Border Force Superintendent Jim Ley said Australians could be confident their border and law enforcement agencies were working together to protect the community.
“This amount of cocaine would have meant more addiction, more crime, and more violence in our communities. Because of this operation, that harm was stopped,” Supt Ley said.
“Our message to organised crime is clear: we are watching, we are working together, and we will stop anyone who tries to bring illicit drugs into Australia.”
