A second man has been charged as part of investigations into the importation of more than $20 million of drugs in the Hunter earlier this year.
About 9.30am on Monday 9 May, 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.
And, following extensive further inquiries, a 20-year-old man attended Tweed Heads Police Station shortly before 3pm on Tuesday 1 November, 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 Southport man was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday 2 November.
Investigations under Strike Force Groove continue.
For more news stories:
- Man shot in foot following dispute at Greta home
- Young woman dies following crash in Upper Hunter
- Rifle seized, charges and fines issued during Operation Fleece
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