Newcastle $20m cocaine haul: Brazlian diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva could face Manus Island

A Brazilian diver who allegedly fished out millions of dollars worth of cocaine in a deadly drug operation at the Port of Newcastle is believed to be “on the run in Sydney”.

The Brazilian diver at the centre of a multimillion-dollar international drug operation — which claimed the life of another man in the Port of Newcastle last month — could be deported to Manus Island for detention.

Police issued a warrant for the arrest of 32-year-old South American man, Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, on May 17 after Organised Crime Squad detectives launched an investigation following the discovery of the body of a diver and 54kg of cocaine — uncovered in the Hunter River at Newcastle.

Organised Crime Squad detectives have released images of Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva.

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.

The renewed push for information on Da Silva’s whereabouts comes as police sources have revealed to The Daily Telegraph the alleged drug smuggler is “believed to be hiding out in Sydney”.

Organised Crime Squad detectives have released images of Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva.

Police are now calling for the Brazilian community to assist investigators.

“This man was allegedly smuggled into the country by yacht through the Northern Territory,” the police source said. “Commonwealth Authorities including the Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police are weighing up the possibility of the addition of people smuggling charges being issued against James Blee.

“But Jhoni Da Silva could also face detention on Manus Island as he was allegedly smuggled into the country without undergoing appropriate checks.”

Queensland Police and Australian Federal Police have charged a man in relation to the discovery of more than $20m in cocaine at the Port of Newcastle on Monday that ended in the death of a diver. 62-year-old James Blake Blee was arrested at a North Queensland airport allegedly trying to flee the country on a flight to Singapore on Wednesday evening.

On May 11, businessman James Blake Blee was arrested and charged in Cairns over his alleged role in the importation of more than $20 million in cocaine.

Blee was allegedly nabbed by Queensland Police at Cairns Airport with a one-way ticket to Singapore and thousands of dollars.

At the time of the extradition, Police prosecutor Sophie Gorrick said NSW Police had obtained “CCTV of the defendant with the deceased diver buying sophisticated diving equipment like that found on the diver”.