Two locked up over half-tonne cocaine bust

Puke ha ‘iote mo ha kilokalami kōkeini e 500 i Solomone e he kau Polisi 'Aositelēlia pea kuo fakailo ai ha toko ua i Senē

Sarah McPhee, Australian Associated Press

A yacht filled with about 500 kilograms of cocaine has been discovered moored in the Solomon Islands, with two Sydney men charged for their alleged involvement.


Two men have been charged in Sydney, including an alleged drug importation kingpin, and about 500 kilograms of cocaine seized in the Solomon Islands in an international probe.

A joint investigation involving Australian, Solomon Islands and US officials ended on Thursday when the half-tonne of drugs – a magnitude not seen before by the South Pacific nation, was discovered inside the hull of a Belgian-registered, 44-foot and double-masted yacht moored in Honiara.

The cache was concealed and stored inside a steering mechanism that flows through the Vieux Malin vessel.

The Australian Federal Police allege the large yacht travelled from South America across the Pacific Ocean, and the syndicate behind the cocaine haul was arranging another “handover” at sea before venturing to Sydney.

Simultaneous to Thursday’s discovery, two Australian citizens were arrested over their alleged involvement in the planned importation and faced Sydney’s Central Local Court on Friday.

Zhen Tao Qi, 41, from Wahroonga has been charged with knowingly dealing in money or other property which is an instrument of crime valued at greater than $50,000, and conspiracy to import commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan said they suspect Qi is a senior syndicate figure, if not the head.

“In relation to the large-scale importation of narcotics, this person has been looked at for quite some time,” he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

Zheng Zhao, 39, from Bonnyrigg Heights is also facing one count of dealing with an instrument of crime, which AFP allege was “in relation to the transfer or handover of money in payment or furtherance of the importation”.

Qi and Zhao were each refused bail, with their matters due back in court on November 28.

Search warrants were also carried out in Dolls Point and Caringbah with items and electronic material seized.

It is the largest major organised crime probe undertaken by AFP with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

“We’re still yet to completely weigh the seizure and to analyse it but I think I’d be comfortable in saying probably a street value of between $200 to $300 million would be a reasonable estimate,” Det Sup McQuillan said.

“It’s certainly a seizure which … the magnitude has not been seen previously in that part of the world.”

He said upwards of eight tonnes of cocaine has now been seized in similar circumstances with “an emerging methodology” since February 2016, “most of which, if not all of which, we believe was destined for Australia”.

AFP are interested in speaking to the yacht’s crew, who they understand are no longer in the Solomon Islands.

About The Author

Sometimes when a business is growing, it needs a little help.

Right now Kaniva News provides a free, politically independent, bilingual news service for readers around the world that is absolutely unique. We are the largest New Zealand-based Tongan news service, and our stories reach Tongans  wherever they are round the world. But as we grow, there are increased demands on Kaniva News for translation into Tongan on our social media accounts and for the costs associated with expansion. We believe it is important for Tongans to have their own voice and for Tongans to preserve their language, customs and heritage. That is something to which we are strongly committed. That’s why we are asking you to consider sponsoring our work and helping to preserve a uniquely Tongan point of view for our readers and listeners.

spot_imgspot_imgspot_imgspot_img

Latest news

Related news