Sea Urchin V revealed as first boat in botched cocaine operation off K’gari| Interactive map, timeline

A 13.5 metre boat listed for sale for almost $130,000 broke down before another vessel had to be purchased the next day as part of a failed $760 million cocaine importation attempt, police allege. NEW DETAILS, MAP

True Grit is docked at the Hervey Bay marina and will be subject to a seizure application by the Australian Federal Police.

In the idyllic Hervey Bay marina, among the off-season whale watching fleet, two boats allegedly at the centre of a botched smuggling operation which uncovered $760m in cocaine, the biggest haul in the country’s history, are docked off a locked jetty.

The Sea Urchin V, a 13.58m fibreglass boat, can for the first time be revealed as the original vessel police allege broke down at Hervey Bay before it could retrieve the record load from the mothership more than 400kms off the Queensland coast on Friday, November 29.

Both it, and True Grit, which a court this week heard was hastily bought by the syndicate on the Saturday before it too broke down with the cocaine packages already on-board, are now subject to a seizure application which is being prepared by the Australian Federal Police. This publication can also reveal that police will allege David John Pfeffer, the 35-year-old Isis Central man arrested as part of the operation, the skipper of both doomed boats.

The Sea Urchin V was listed for sale online two months ago for $128,500.

The 'Sea Urchin' was originally used to bring the illicit substances to Australian shores but broke down on Friday and was returned to the Hervey Bay Marina, where it has sat ever since.

An AFP spokeswoman confirmed that after the Sea Urchin broke down on the Friday, True Grit was bought from Tin Can Bay, about 105km south, the following day.

But the court heard while it managed to get out to sea and pick up the packages (allegedly with the help of smaller craft which carted the parcels between the mothership and True Grit) it too broke down on the journey back to the coast and became stranded off the northern tip of K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) where it was intercepted by police and then towed back to Hervey Bay.

A matching listing on boat sales site YachtHub.com shows multiple photos of True Grit’s interior and ironically, boasts of her ability to handle tough sea conditions and long trips.

It says the 13.5m Precision Cruiser was also once used by law enforcement, with the description noting “Precision Cruisers are a highly regarded brand, and this vessel was first commissioned in 1986 by the Western Australian Water Police”.

“This gives the vessel added safety features and is a proven seagoing vessel suited to the extreme weather conditions that can be encountered offshore on the Western Australian coastline,” the listing reads.

“Both engines have undergone extensive rebuilds recently.

“Receipts are available.

“The current owner, who is a professional seaman, has cruised the vessel to Cairns and back in the last couple of years since purchase.”

A walk-through video on YouTube shows polished timber finishings throughout, six berths and a full kitchen.

While the asking price listed was $165,000 or the “nearest offer”, it’s understood the boat was bought with cash for about $15,000 less.

There is no suggestion the former owners of either the Sea Urchin V or True Grit knew about the proposed use for the boats, and they are not accused of any wrongdoing.

The court heard the intended destination for the cocaine haul was near the Port of Bundaberg where police will allege Brisbane-based Comanchero vice president Ryan Sean Givney and others were stationed at a boat ramp on the Saturday, awaiting a delivery which would never arrive.

The AFP has charged 11 men and two juveniles following an investigation into a transnational organised crime syndicate accused of conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

He and 12 others including alleged skipper Mr Pfeffer, Dundowran 57-year-old Mark Frederick Sutton, Andrew John Bamforth, Geovani Marius, Riccardo Marius, Nukutawhiti Tenika Matika, Zaquias Jack Matika, Daniel Schieven, Donald Vilaylath, Victoria Point man Mark Gary Sloan and two teens have all been charged with conspiracy to import a commercial amount of border-controlled drugs.

Only Riccardo Marius, who together with his brother Geovani was arrested at Bundaberg KFC last weekend, has so far been released on bail.

Riccardo Marius (left) was granted bail due his lack of criminal history.

According to the bench charge sheets before Hervey Bay Magistrates Court, the dates of the alleged crimes committed by Mr Pfeffer and Mr Sutton range between March 25 and November 30.

However, the AFP would not be drawn on why the time frame dates back to March nor did it answer questions on whether the mothership, believed to have originated in South America, had been located or whether any of those involved other than Mr Givney were alleged bikie members or associates.

Instead, it said “investigations into this matter remain ongoing. As these matters are before the court, the AFP has no further comment”. All 13 of those arrested – 11 men and two teens – are expected to have their charges mentioned together in Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 7, 2025.

No pleas have been entered.

- Additional reporting: Eden Regan and Judith Kerr