A Tweed Heads man was charged with allegedly importing 200kg of cocaine last month, after police say they found the drugs on the catamaran he was sailing near the Queensland-NSW border.
In a media release, they say the 41-year-old faced the NSW Bail Division Court on 17 April, 2026, ‘charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment’.
‘The man was formally refused bail and remanded to next appear in the same court on 12 June, 2026.
‘Police were investigating an alleged transnational plot by a syndicate with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs to sail cocaine into Australian waters before being transferred to local vessels to bring the drugs to shore.
‘The Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (GC JOCTF), comprising officers from the AFP, QPS, ABF and ACIC, as well as NSWPF, intercepted a catamaran sailing into the Tweed River, just south of the Queensland border, on Thursday (16 April, 2026).
‘The catamaran had sailed from the Tweed River on Tuesday (14 April, 2026), travelling north before turning its transponder off.
Collected drugs at sea
‘It will be alleged the catamaran collected the drugs at sea, before sailing back towards the coast and turning its transponder back on before returning to the Tweed River.
‘NSWPF Marine Area Command operatives from Tweed Heads intercepted the vessel in the river and towed it to a secure location, where it was searched and examined by specialist forensic officers.
‘Police will allege about 200kg of cocaine was hidden inside black duffel bags on board the catamaran, along with $100,000 in cash.
‘GC JOCTF and NSWPF investigators then executed multiple search warrants across southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
‘Investigations are ongoing to determine the vessel and crew responsible for transporting the drugs into Australian waters and to identify other syndicate members. Further arrests have not been ruled out’.
AFP Detective Inspector Steven Wiggins said the successful multi-agency operation highlighted the collective strength of Australian law enforcement to detect and disrupt sophisticated drug importation plots.
‘Transnational criminal syndicates have reaped huge profits by feeding Australia’s demand for illicit drugs however the AFP and our partners are always watching and remain one step ahead,’ Det Insp Wiggins said.
“Organised crime groups are driven only by greed and have no regard for the harm they reap on individuals, families and the wider Australian community.
‘The AFP’s strong relationships with domestic and international partners ensure that we continue to deliver maximum impact on transnational criminal syndicates targeting Australia.’
QPS Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Phelps said the QPS was committed to working in partnership with its federal and interstate counterparts to disrupt the supply of drugs into Queensland.
‘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,’ Det a/Supt Phelps said.
‘Outcomes like this highlight the significant results that can be achieved through collaborative interagency efforts.’
NSW Police State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said this result highlighted the strength of our partnerships across jurisdictions.
‘Organised criminal groups continue to target our region, but the community should be reassured that NSW Police remain committed to detecting and disrupting these attempts,’ Det Supt Faux said.
‘The Marine Area Command worked seamlessly with our federal and state partners to bring this operation to a safe and successful conclusion.’
‘The interception of this vessel demonstrates the extent of the resources and capabilities the New South Wales Police possess to target and disrupt those attempting to harm the community.’
ABF 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.’
ACIC National Manager Collection Operations North Boyd Doherty said the ACIC was committed to targeting the highest-level organised crime actors and sharing intelligence with law enforcement partners to disrupt the importation of illicit drugs.
‘The threat posed by serious and organised crime is real, pervasive and damaging,’ Mr Doherty said.
‘The ACIC works to strengthen Australia’s ability to disrupt criminal networks through our close partnerships. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies work together every day to dismantle organised crime networks and safeguard our communities. This is a real example of these partnerships delivering impact.’
Anyone with information which may assist GC JOCTF investigators with their ongoing inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Information about suspicious activity which may impact the security of Australia’s borders should contact Border Watch.
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