Police issue warrant for second alleged Newcastle cocaine diver

NSW Police have issued an arrest warrant for a second man allegedly involved in the $20 million cocaine haul found in the Port of Newcastle last week, where a diver was discovered dead.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a second man police allege was involved in the deadly Newcastle $20 million cocaine importation last week.

Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, was allegedly involved in the importation of cocaine through Newcastle Port last week that resulted in another syndicate member drowning.

NSW Police Organised Crime Squad have issued a public appeal for help to find Da Silva who is wanted in relation to an arrest warrant.

Da Silva is described as being of South American appearance, about 180cm tall, of a muscular build, with a shaved head, brown eyes and unshaven.

Anyone who sights him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to call Triple-0 immediately.

A diver’s body and 50 kgs of cocaine were found in the port. Picture: NSW Police

Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, is wanted over the alleged importation of $20 million of cocaine into Newcastle Port last week. Source: NSW Police

The appeal for information about Da Silva comes eight days after a man was found floating in water at the Port of Newcastle.

Blocks of cocaine with an estimated street value of $20 million was found floating in the water nearby, with police believing something went wrong during the alleged import – resulting in the man’s death, before his alleged counterparts left him behind.

Police divers at the Port of Newcastle last week preparing to dive in around the ship and continue investigating. Picture: Peter Lorimer

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 $20 million, from the inside of the hull of the ARETI.GR cargo ship.

Authorities last week arrested another alleged syndicate member James Black Blee, as he was trying to get out of the country.

Blee, a superyacht tour operator, was arrested as he was about to board a plane to Singapore on Wednesday last week when he was taken into custody by Australian Federal Police.