Two Norwegian men have been jailed for approximately 10 years each for attempting to hide drugs in the sea-chest of a bulker that had arrived from Brazil which called at Newcastle.
A “sea chest” is a recessed area inside a ship’s hull that is typically below the waterline. It is used to take seawater into the vessel, which is then used for a variety of purposes such as cooling, providing water for firefighting, ballast water and the like.
A 53 year old male was sentenced earlier this week by Newcastle District Court to 9 years and 11 months of jail, and his accomplice was jailed in March for four years and 11 months.
Following an anonymous tip-off, and reports from the general public that two men were seen behaving suspiciously, police arrested the two men on 24 January 2023 after witnesses reported seeing two men in Newcastle Harbour. The men were arrested onshore later that day and a variety of items including a black climbing belt, diving googles with torches, a black flipper, diving bag, bolt cutters, diving gloves, pliers, a pocket knife, diving equipment, electronic devices, receipts and passports, were found.
The bulker had been searched the day before and police divers found six waterproof duffle bags hidden inside the sea chest of a bulker. Police found 82 packages, weighing a total of 80kg, that subsequently tested positive for cocaine.
It was subsequently discovered that the pair had flown into Brisbane from Denpasar, Indonesia, separately on 17 and 18 January, 2023, just a few days before the bulk carrier arrived. On their drive south through NSW, the men purchased two seabobs worth $56,000 on the Gold Coast, a scuba set in Nelson Bay, and tools from a hardware store in Newcastle. A “seabob” is an electrically powered underwater-sled or scooter designed to help scuba divers, or other swimmers, to move at speed underwater.
Forensic analysis of the men’s phones revealed conversations discussing the logistics of retrieving the cocaine from the vessel in an encrypted app group chat titled ‘Finding Nemo’.
Police divers later found both seabobs fastened to a pier pylon in the Hunter River at Newcastle.
The men were each charged with one count of attempting to possess a large commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). Both men pleaded guilty.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said the cocaine, which had an estimated street value of $26 million, equated to about 400,000 street-level deals.
Help with drug addiction
- For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
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- For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to the Turning Point website.
