Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged a second man as part of investigations into the death of a diver and alleged importation of more than $20 million of cocaine in the state’s Hunter earlier this year.
About 9.30am on Monday 9 May 2022, emergency services were called to the Port of Newcastle after a male diver was located unresponsive in the water with 54kg of cocaine nearby.
Despite the efforts of witnesses and paramedics, the man could not be revived.
He has since been formally identified as 31-year-old Brazilian national Bruno Borges Martins.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District and Marine Area Command established a crime scene, before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad, who established Strike Force Groove to further investigate the incident.
They have been assisted by officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), Northern Territory Police (NTPOL) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) since that time.
As part of ongoing inquiries, a 62-year-old man was charged earlier this year over his alleged role in the incident. He remains before the courts.
Following extensive further inquiries, a 20-year-old man attended Tweed Heads Police Station shortly before 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 November 2022), where he was arrested by strike force detectives.
He was charged with import commercial quantity of border controlled drug and supply prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity.
The man from Southport, QLD, was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today (Wednesday 2 November 2022).
Investigations under Strike Force Groove continue.
Anyone with information serious organised crime should contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
