Former Olympic athlete Nathan Baggaley and brother Dru jailed for cocaine import plot

The brothers held a lot of promise in kayaking and rugby union, but their latest entanglement with the drug world could see them remain in prison for decades.

Nathan and Dru Baggaley.

They both had a lot of promise.

And after becoming embroiled in drug dealings, both claimed at one point they were turning over a new leaf.

But brothers Dru, 39, and Nathan Baggaley, 45, are facing decades behind bars after being convicted of involvement in the importation of more than 500kg of cocaine in 2018.

Nathan was a three-time world champion K1 500m kayaker and netted two silver medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But his downfall began when in 2005, just a year after his Olympic glory, he tested positive for banned steroids.

Nathan Baggaley's defence lawyer Anthony Kimmins leaves the Supreme Court in Brisbane after Mr Baggaley and his brother Dru Baggaley were sentenced to long prison terms over a cocaine-smuggling plot. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

He was initially banned from kayaking for 15 months, but this was later increased to two years.

He claimed ignorance about his consumption of the drug, which he said was in spiked orange juice belonging to Dru.

Nathan has since then been convicted of numerous drug offences from possessing hundreds of ecstasy tablets in 2007, manufacturing a prohibited drug and drug supply.

Dru was a promising rugby union player and claimed returning to the sport in Byron Bay had helped him to get his life back together.

Dru Baggaley has made a successful return to FNC rugby at Byron Bay prior to his 2018 arrest.

In 2017, a year after he was released from prison following a nine-year term for his involvement in a Gold Coast and Byron ecstasy ring with his brother, spoke of his need for a “fresh start” with Byron Bay Rugby.

Similarly, in an interview in 2016, Nathan said he had “pretty strong motivation not to go down (the) path” of becoming a career criminal, while acknowledging his criminal behaviour saw him miss the birth of his son in 2013.

Nathan Baggaley outside court.

Despite these proclamations, in 2018 the men were arrested in connection with the attempted import of more than 500kg of cocaine, worth an estimated $200 million.

Dru and Nathan have now been sentenced for their parts in that operation after they were found guilty of trying to import the drugs.

A young Nathan Baggaley.

Nathan received 25 years’ prison while Dru received 28 years when they were sentenced in Brisbane Supreme Court this week.

The brothers are facing 12 years without parole.

Skipper, Anthony Draper, 56, pleaded guilty to attempting to import cocaine last year and received a 13 year prison term.

Draper will spend four years and three months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Former Olympian Nathan Baggaley and his brother Dru have been imprisoned for their role in the attempted import of more than 500kg of cocaine.

Joint investigation

In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said the arrests arose from a Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce operation together with the Australian Border Force.

Dru and Draper were arrested offshore from Byron Bay on July 31, 2018.

The men were trying to bring the drugs to shore in a small rigid-hulled inflatable boat when an Australian Defence vessel tried to intercept them.

The men were monitored throwing packages of cocaine into the water and tried to evade authorities; they were later recovered.

Cocaine seized by the authorities as part of a joint operation.

The boat was intercepted by Queensland Water Police about 40 nautical miles east of Byron Bay.

Nathan, who was onshore awaiting their arrival, was later arrested and extradited to Queensland.

Australian Federal Police Commander Andrew Donoghoe said the operation highlighted the effectiveness of cross-agency law enforcement.

“The ultimate result of this operation is that a large amount of drugs never made it to Australian shores; into our cities, towns and impacting our families,” Commander Donoghoe said.

Some of the cocaine seized by authorities.

“This should stand as a continued warning to organised crime syndicates that the full strength of Australian law enforcement is working together to stay a step ahead. We will seize your drugs, arrest your agents and put them before the court.”

Detective Superintendent Col Briggs said the Queensland Police would continue to target organised crime.

“A significant number of QPS officers were involved in this operation, working alongside agency partners,” he said.

Nathan Baggaley in happier times, after claiming one of his two silver medals in the Athens Olympics in 2004.

“The success of the operation is a result of these established and close partnerships and highlights the skill, dedication and professionalism of all officers involved.”

Acting Australian Border Force regional commander for Queensland, Joanne Churchill, said the organisation remained on alert for criminal groups’ attempts to bring drugs into Australia.

“Working together with our law enforcement partners, our combined efforts have once again seen a large-scale importation of drugs thwarted, which in this case has kept hundreds of kilos of cocaine off our streets,” she said.

“(This) sentencing sends a strong deterrence message to those who may think of engaging in this illegal activity.”