Missing Brazilian diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva suspected to have been murdered after botched Newcastle Harbour cocaine haul

Organised crime detectives believe a Brazilian scuba expert, missing since the body of a fellow diver was found near $20m of cocaine after a botched importation operation in Newcastle two years ago, may have been murdered.

Brazilian national Bruno Borges-Martin drowned while trying to smuggle an estimated more than 50 kilograms of cocaine to shore near the Port of Newcastle. The hunt is still on to find fellow diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva. Picture: NSW Police

Detectives are almost certain missing Brazilian scuba diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva is dead – and possibly murdered by the same drug cartel who employed him in the botched attempt to secretly haul more than 50kg of cocaine from inside the hull of a ship in Newcastle Harbour.

Two years after the body of fellow Brazilian cocaine diver Bruno Borges-Martins was found near where $20m worth of cocaine was found floating in small blocks near ships docked at Kooragang Island, it can be revealed the disappearance of Da Silva is being treated as suspicious.

One line of investigation is whether Da Silva may have also perished during the failed attempt to retrieve the 54kg of cocaine but his body was never retrieved.

However, that theory is considered unlikely and organised crime squad detectives now suspect the 32-year-old left his fellow diver – possibly escaping with some cocaine before the body was found – and was later murdered for the failed attempt or to silence him.

“At the end of the day, it’s about giving answers to the family who wonder where their loved one has gone,” organised crime squad commander Det Supt Peter Faux said.

Missing diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva has not been seen since the botched importation in May, 2022.

Bruno Borges-Martins, 31, was found dead near a cocaine shipment and is believed to have been hired as a diver.

“We believe that there are people out there who have information that can provide closure for the family two years after he disappeared.

“I urge anyone who has information to speak to us so that Mr Da Silvas loved ones don’t have to spend another year wondering what happened to him.”

Police rescue officers at the Port of Newcastle after the body of Bruno Borges-Martins and 50kg of cocaine was found on May 9, 2022. Picture: NSW Police.

Strike Force Groove detectives have also released images of a truck and van travelling in tandem back through Sydney the night before 31-year-old Borges-Martins’ body was discovered at the Port of Newcastle on the morning of May 9, 2022.

The vehicles are considered crucial in the investigation into Da Silva’s disappearance.

The truck, which is a white Mitsubishi Fuso with the NSW registration DA81PP, was last seen travelling southbound on the M4 Motorway, Pennant Hills, about 6.30pm on May 8.

Detectives are also appealing for any information about a Toyota Townace Van with the NSW registration WNY439 which was seen travelling with the truck.

A white Mitsubishi Fuso, with registration plates DA81PP, was last seen travelling southbound on the M4 Motorway, Pennant Hills, about 6.30pm Wednesday 8 May 2022. Police are seeking information about the truck in relation to the disappearance of cocaine diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva. Picture: NSW Police.

A Toyota Townace van, registration WNY439, which was seen travelling with a white Mitsubishi Fuso southbound on the M4 Motorway, Pennant Hills, about 6.30pm Wednesday 8 May 2022. Picture: NSW Police.

The highly-skilled Brazilians divers were hired by the organised crime gang and brought into Australia from Indonesia to retrieve the cocaine from bulk carrier Areti GR’s “sea chest” – a part of the ship that sucks up water inside to be used for cooling.

The pair were wearing specialist diving gear including a rebreather that does not produce bubbles before Borges-Martins got into difficulty and drowned during the night-time operation.