David Wren, 67, of St Georges Basin, was arrested along with Kevin Michael Geraghty, 62, of Clovelly, Sydney and Glen James Willcox, 62, of Randwick by Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Friday morning at Sanctuary Point.

All three have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. 

The trio appeared before a special bail sitting of Nowra Local Court on Saturday and were refused bail to reappear Sydney’s Central Local Court on Wednesday, February 8. 

The trio were arrested in an operation involving an AFP investigation supported by the New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS), Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), the Fijian Transnational Crime Unit, French Polynesian authorities and Australian Border Force (ABF).

Three other men have been charged with serious drug importation offences as a result of the investigation.

In August 2014, the AFP received intelligence from the NZCS about a conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs into Australia.

Police will allege a sailing vessel, the Elakha, travelled from New Zealand to a mothership in the South Pacific Ocean last month to collect the drugs.

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, February 2, the HMAS Bathurst intercepted the Elakha. Maritime Border Command (MBC) personnel boarded the vessel, and the two crew members –  New Zealand man Hamish Thompson, 63, and dual Swiss-Fijian national Valentino Fries, 54 – were detained under the Maritime Powers Act.

Black bags containing a large quantity of blocks were discovered on the vessel. Initial testing of the blocks returned a positive result for cocaine with an estimated weight of approximately 1422 kilograms.

This amount of cocaine has a street value of approximately $312 million, though further forensic testing will be conducted to determine exact weight and purity.

On Friday, February 3, Geraghty and Willcox travelled from Sydney to the NSW South Coast, where they met a Wren.

Police allege the three men intended to launch a motor vessel to meet the Elakha at sea before returning to shore with the drugs.

Police arrested a fourth man, Yahay Majdalawi, 32, in Sydney on Friday who is also alleged to be involved in the conspiracy to import the cocaine.

On Sunday, February 5, the HMAS Bathurst returned to Sydney with the Elakha and its detained crew. The two men were arrested on arrival, and were later also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. They were scheduled to appear in the Central Local Court on Monday.

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment or 7500 penalty units or both.    

AFP acting Deputy Commissioner Operations, Neil Gaughan, said the investigation has spanned more than two-and-a-half years, and its success was a testament to the tenacity and dedication of the investigators involved.

“Our officers based in Brisbane have been doggedly pursuing this matter since 2014. The interception of this huge volume of drugs and the charging of these six men is a testament to the officer’s drive and determination,” acting Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said.

“It also highlights the importance of our close working relationships with our local and internal law enforcement partners – without which this operation could not have succeeded.”

Deputy Commissioner Operations Michael Outram said Australian Border Force officers worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners over the course of the investigation culminating in one of the biggest drug seizure in recent times.

“We hope that this operation sends a strong message to anyone thinking of smuggling drugs: no matter how innovative or complex their ways are, our evolving detection methods and resources, including at sea, will keep up with them,” Deputy Commissioner Outram said.

Chief of Operations Maritime Border Command, Air Commodore Jake Campbell, said the successful outcome of the operation showcases the sophisticated work of the MBC, Australia’s leading civil maritime security authority.

“The unique multi-agency blend of the MBC means we have at our disposal advanced technology, resources and highly trained officers to target, detect and seize illicit drugs before they reach our border,” Chief of Operations Campbell said.

New Zealand Customs, Group Manager Intelligence, Investigations and Enforcement, Jamie Bamford, said this significant seizure is the culmination of a three-year investigation by New Zealand Customs into the activities of the Elakha and its crew.

“Intelligence obtained by Customs was shared with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force and this seizure is testament to the strong partnerships and cooperation between New Zealand, Australia and Pacific nations focused on combating drug smuggling operations in the region. Our partnerships enable us to act as one and our sophisticated intelligence capabilities and commitment prevent drugs reaching our communities,” said Mr Bamford.