9 News Australia
A court has heard new details about a massive cocaine import, found under the hull of a cargo ship in Newcastle Harbour.
James Blake Blee is being sentenced for helping coordinate the retrieval of the drugs – but his lawyer today questioned how much of a role he played.
Prosecutors have withdrawn a manslaughter charge against a yachtsman who has pleaded guilty to drug and people smuggling offences in Newcastle.
- A charge of manslaughter against James Blee, 63, has been withdrawn
- Blee and his son James Lake-Kusviandy Blee were charged with a number of offences over a deadly drug bust in Newcastle
- Diver Bruno Borges-Martins died and a second alleged diver is being sought by police
Queensland man James Blake Blee, 63, fronted Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link on Wednesday.
Blee was asked to enter pleas to three charges after four other charges, including manslaughter, were withdrawn.
He pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
The court heard that related to a period between April 16 and May 9, 2022.
Police documents tendered in court say that on May 9 last year, the body of Brazilian man Bruno Borges-Martins was found floating near 54 kilograms of cocaine bricks in the Port of Newcastle.
Another 54kg of cocaine was seized in the community after the discovery.
Police say Bruno Borges-Martins’ body was found floating near cocaine bricks. (Facebook)
People smuggling
Blee also pleaded guilty to people smuggling, relating to Mr Borges-Martins and another Brazilian, Jhoni Fernando Da Silva, whose whereabouts was unknown.
Court documents say the Brazilian nationals were smuggled into Cullen Bay, in Darwin, between 1pm and 10pm on April 27, 2022.
The court was told on Wednesday Blee brought the men to Australia knowing both were non-citizens and had no lawful right to enter.
Borges-Martins’ body was found floating in Newcastle Harbour 12 days after the men entered the country.
Blee also pleaded guilty to knowingly dealing with $170,000 in proceeds of crime money, once he and the divers had arrived in Newcastle.
The charge of manslaughter was officially withdrawn prior to the pleas.
A police charge sheet for that offence had alleged Blee had provided faulty gear to Mr Borges-Martins, knowing it was faulty.
