Five men were arrested after police allegedly found a shocking discovery on a boat near the Australian coast
Five men were arrested after catching a more than ton of cocaine in a fishing boat on the central coast of New South Wales.
Detectives boarded the ship at 9.40 am on Friday morning and wrapped the 13-meter motorboat around the ship for six days.
Police allegedly found 1.1 ton of cocaine on the ship – an estimated value of $623.4 million when heading towards the southwest rock.
The huge traction has been divided into 1,036 bricks and is hidden throughout the ship.
Police arrested two men on the boat, one wearing a purple and black wetsues and the other wearing a hoodie and shorts, soaked in the water.
Cooper Hollingworth, 24, from the southern suburb of Newcastle, and Jacob Malcolm, 26, were charged with supplying large amounts of commercial drugs.
Police accused the men of being “catch-up crew” of alleged drug import operations.
Three other men, allegedly “onshore coordinator”) were also arrested after investigators stopped two vehicles trying to leave the rocky area in the southwest.
Two 24- and 26-year-old men are charged with large commercial drug supply
Chaiwat Thipsing, 28, Luke Hazell, 28, and Rodney James Hill, 35, were charged with intention to participate in a commercial supply of cocaine.
After “suspicious” purchase of 13-meter car cruisers, New South Wales police began to monitor the men.
One of the men allegedly purchased the ship from a yacht dealer in Sutherland, Sydney on April 28.
Strike Force investigators took over the case and used the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to gather intelligence from the group.
AFP police looked at the ship as they drove northward on the NSW coastline.
When the ship was made for the rocky coast in the southwest, the water police cut into the path and escorted two men from the boat.
Forensic experts are examining the captured drug and will conduct further tests to determine the exact weight and purity of the drug.
Strike Force investigators also executed four search warrants in Newcastle’s house, seizing electronic equipment, documents and clothing, with the assistance of AFP.
Police will accuse multiple tonnes of cocaine hidden throughout the ship
AFP executed further search warrants in a home in Catherine Bay where they seized communication equipment and cash.
The men appeared in the bail court in Parramatta on Saturday, and they were all officially denied bail.
Next, they will appear in Coffs Port District Court on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Investigations on the origin of drugs and the origins of so-called colleagues are still ongoing.
NSW Police Crime Commander and Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said the unanimous efforts of law enforcement agencies to save millions of drugs from entering the country.
Ast Com Weinstein said: “Whether on land or at sea, the NSW police have the ability to sabotage and sabotage criminal businesses.”
“What we are evident in our actions this week is our ability to hub and protect our communities.
There is no doubt that if access to our communities is allowed, these drugs will have a devastating impact on people’s lives and social cohesion, especially in regional townships. ”
After discovery, police further arrested the so-called “land coordinator”
“There is no doubt that these drugs will have a devastating impact on people’s lives and social cohesion,” said the acting assistant police commissioner in NSW.
Australia’s vast coastline is attractive to organized criminal groups, who are trying to exploit this by trying to import drugs using ships.
The bad news for them is that AFP will continue to work with our partners to target organized criminal groups who mistakenly believe they can be impunished.
“Importing drugs through the ocean is inherently dangerous, and criminals using this smuggling method will risk their freedom and life. ”
