SA man Jake Hurkmans charged after AFP allegedly find 200kg of cocaine hidden inside boat at Balmain

Police say an SA man sailed along the coast of NSW to meet a container ship from Belgium before allegedly stuffing 200kg of cocaine into his boat.

A fishing boat packed with 200 kilograms of cocaine has been busted off the coast of Sydney after allegedly collecting the drugs from a container ship.

South Australian skipper Jake Hurkmans was on board the fishing boat when police intercepted the vessel in the early hours of March 3.

Police allege Hurkmans launched his black boat from Taren Point and travelled through Port Botany to meet the 330 metre long container ship MSC Joanna.

Jake Hurkmans.

With police after the interception.

Officers descend on the boat yesterday. Picture: NSW police

Police arrested Hurkmans yesterday.

The container ship had travelled from Antwerp in Belgium, where police allege the cocaine was loaded on board.

Once police towed the yacht to the Marine Area Command in Balmain, officers discovered 11 plastic containers with about 200 kilograms of cocaine.

This week Australian officers have been searching the container ship, which has 1500 containers on board, at Port Botany.

He was questioned by officers.

Police found 200kg of cocaine.

AFP Eastern Command Investigations commander Kirsty Schofield said the method of a mother ship transferring drugs to a smaller daughter ship offshore was a well-known one.

“Australia is a really lucrative market for drugs and has an insatiable appetite for drugs,” she said today.

“The threat posed by transnational and serious organised crime is real and impacts on the security of Australia and Australians.”

Despite the pandemic forcing border closures and restrictions on travel worldwide, Mrs Schofield said drug importations had continued unabated.

Cash found during raid.

“I would say 2020 was a really busy year for us for import work,” she said.

“I didn’t see the drug trade slow down at all.”

NSW Police State Crime Command director Darren Bennett said it was the third time law enforcement had intercepted a daughter ship carrying drugs offshore since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The cocaine blocks were worth about $230,000 wholesale but would attract two to three times that amount on the street, Mr Bennett said.

Police have also carried out search warrants in NSW and Adelaide over the past week and seized $500,000 in cash from a storage facility.

Hurkmans appeared briefly in Central Local Court on Friday on charges of drug importation.

He did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned to May 5.

Defence barrister Brian Walker said his client was holding up in custody.

“Like for anyone in custody it’s a traumatic experience but he is doing OK,” he said outside court.

“They are serious charges. The matter is before the court.

“We will let the justice system take its course and go from there.”