Norwegians Johan-Martinius Halversen and Jon Birger Karlsen charged over cocaine shipment in Newcastle

A court has heard two Norwegians allegedly flew into Queensland, bought expensive scuba gear and were attempting to retrieve 82kg of cocaine from a ship in Newcastle when a light shone on them.

Two men have been charged over the alleged attempted retrieval of 82kg of cocaine from a ship in Newcastle. ​

Two Norwegian nationals have been charged over the alleged attempt to retrieve 82kg of cocaine off a visiting ship in Port of Newcastle during a pre-dawn scuba diving operation thwarted when bright lights were shone on them.

Newcastle Bail Court heard on Thursday that the men were part of a “sophisticated” international crime syndicate which flew the Norwegians into Queensland, bought them expensive scuba gear and sent them to Newcastle harbour to pull the cocaine from the ship.

Johan-Martinius Halversen, 51, and Jon Birger Karlsen have both denied being involved in the attempted importation, with the court hearing they are facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if they are convicted of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawful import: border controlled drug.

The men were dramatically arrested at Honeysuckle, next to the harbour in the heart of Newcastle, on Wednesday afternoon by organised crime squad detectives and federal police.

It was alleged in court that the men were seen in the water in the Port of Newcastle wearing scuba diving gear at 4am on Wednesday before they fled, leaving a lot of diving equipment in the water.

Police allege the men were seen in scuba gear at 4am attempting to retrieve 82kg of cocaine held in a visiting ship docked in the Port of Newcastle.

Lawyers for both men argued that the prosecution case was not strong, citing possible identification issues because of the time between them allegedly being seen in the water and their arrest.

But prosecutors told the court that the case against both men was strong and that they were part of a complex and sophisticated organised crime syndicate which had attempted to import the 82kg of cocaine.

A phone had also been seized with encryption apps on it, the court heard.

Both Halversen and Karlsen made release applications, their lawyers telling the court both had no criminal history in Australia and they could be housed in detention centres rather in prison on remand.

Halversen’s representative also told the court Halversen could be classed as a vulnerable person in prison because of his limited English and placing him in detention would mitigate any concerns he was a flight risk.

Lawyers for both men also argued there would be significant delays before their matters could go to trial, with prosecutors stating any time they would spend in custody would “pale into insignificance” compared to any sentence they received if they were convicted.

The court heard the Norwegian consulate had been in touch with the men’s representatives and wished to know about the court outcomes.

Both men were refused bail and will reappear in Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

More to come