CAIRNS MAN FACES EXTRADITION BID
A SUPERYACHT tour operator from Cairns will face court today as NSW police travel to the Far North, where it is expected they will apply for his extradition on charges of importing a large commercial quantity of a prohibited substance. James Blake Blee, 62, was arrested at Cairns Airport on Wednesday after a scuba diver was found dead in the water at the Port of Newcastle near a large sack of cocaine on Monday morning.
A 62-year-old man charged over a $20m cocaine stash allegedly being moved from an Argentinian boat using divers has been remanded in custody to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on May 13.
James Blake Blee was arrested as he tried to board a plane to Singapore about 5.30pm on Wednesday by Australian Federal Police and Queensland police officers.
Mr Blee appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday from Cairns watchhouse, where he objected to being unable to contact his family and his likely time in custody in coming days.
He has been charged with importing big commercial quantities of a border-controlled drug and a big commercial drug supply.
Prosecutor Sophie Gorrick sought an adjournment.
“The prosecution has only just received a bail affidavit which objects to the defendants bail – we are also waiting on New South Wales police who are en route,” Ms Gorrick said.
“It just all ties together a lot more easily when they’re already here.”
Defence solicitor Peter Haarsma did not object and Magistrate Bevan Hughes ruled Mr Blee would appear at 9.30am on May 13.
Mr Blee interrupted to address the court via video link from the watch house.
“I’m sitting here since yesterday, five in the afternoon – I’ve never, I haven’t been able to get in contact with my family, they may or may not know where I am,” he said.
Mr Hughes advised Mr Blee to speak directly to his solicitor but Mr Blee continued.
“Then I’ve got the extradition that will go on tomorrow and I can’t get out, and extradition will be on Friday, which means I will travel sometime on Friday and it may not end there, I will go in (custody) Saturday and Sunday so that’s four times 24 hours, potentially to Monday,” he said.
Mr Hughes repeated the questions should be directed to his solicitor.
“Because, Mr Blee, this is a court and there are police officers present and prosecutors present, and you don’t want to be saying anything that may not be in your best interest,” Mr Hughes said.
Mr Blee was arrested after workers found an unconscious diver floating in the water at Kooragang 2 Berth at the Port of Newcastle near a large waterproof sack of cocaine on Monday morning.
He was wearing a Sharkskin scuba wetsuit and a highend rebreather.
Paramedics performed CPR on the man but he died at the scene.
Police believe the man, who has since been identified as a foreign national, was a drug mule attempting to retrieve about 50kg of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of more than $20m, from the inside of the hull of the Areti. Gr Majuro cargo ship.
It is believed the diver got some of the drugs ashore before the man’s death.
Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force are assisting NSW Police in their investigation, with one source saying it is not believed the diver arrived in Australia on the ship from Argentina, but rather had been based in NSW for some time doing similar diving jobs for criminal syndicates.
“It (the cocaine) was hidden in the sea chest, it’s a part of the ship that sucks up water inside to be used for cooling,” one officer said.
“We think this was this man’s job and he’s done it before, it definitely wasn’t their first time.”
The Areti. Gr Majuro docked at the Port of Newcastle about 5.30pm on Sunday, completing its voyage of more than a month from Argentina. Less than 12 hours later the man in scuba gear pulled up alongside the ship, as he attempted to recover the cocaine. During the smuggling effort the diver suffered complications and died, leaving a waterproof sack of cocaine behind.