Five arrests after more than a tonne of cocaine allegedly found on motorboat off NSW coast

More than a tonne of cocaine has been seized disconnected the eastbound seashore of Australia and 5 men arrested aft constabulary raided a suspicious motorboat.

Detectives said they were tipped disconnected astir the acquisition of a 13-metre-long vessel with a ample sum of currency successful Sydney’s Sutherland shire connected 28 April.

Police said they began investigating and intercepted the vas connected Friday arsenic it was travelling towards South West Rocks connected the New South Wales mid-north coast.

Officers allegedly recovered 1,110 blocks of cocaine unneurotic weighing much than a tonne connected board.

Police estimated this magnitude of cocaine was worthy $623m connected the street.

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Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested connected committee portion different 3 men, aged 28, 29 and 35, were taken into custody connected enactment aft officers stopped 2 cars allegedly trying to permission the area.

Searches of Newcastle homes led to constabulary seizing physics devices, documents, covering and cash.

Police region the alleged blocks of cocaine from the boat. Photograph: NSW police/AAP

The 2 men connected committee the vessel person been charged with supplying a ample commercialized quantity of a prohibited cause and participating successful a transgression group.

The 3 men connected enactment were charged with taking portion successful supplying a ample commercialized quantity of a prohibited cause and participating successful a transgression group.

All 5 faced Parramatta bail tribunal connected Saturday wherever they were formally refused bail to look astatine Coffs Harbour section tribunal connected 15 July.

“Australia’s immense coastline is charismatic to organised transgression groups, who effort to exploit this by trying to import drugs utilizing boats,” Australian national constabulary adjunct commissioner Stephen Dametto said successful a statement.

“The atrocious quality for them is the AFP volition proceed to enactment unneurotic with our partners to people organised transgression syndicates who wrongly judge they tin run with impunity.”