Daniel Wayne John Roberts’ alleged 900kg cocaine shipment washes up in Sydney
The mystery surrounding hundreds of kilos of cocaine washing up on Sydney beaches has been solved with the arrest of an alleged drug kingpin with possible links to the Comancheros. See photos, video.
Police & Courts
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An accused drug kingpin who plotted to bring in 20 tons of illegal drugs into Australia has been charged with the botched cocaine shipment that washed up on Sydney’s beaches.
Daniel Wayne John Roberts, with possible links to the Comancheros and who used the nickname WANTED in secret drug dealing apps, appeared before court in Queensland on charges of importing commercial quantities of drugs.
Police alleged that he was responsible for a bungled 900kg cocaine shipment off Queensland’s Moreton Island in November.
It is alleged Roberts, 36, was unable to collect the drugs, worth almost $700 million, from the water.
The shipment then broke up, police say, and floated down Australia’s coast, washing up on Sydney’s beaches just before Christmas.
The story made international headlines when a Bondi Beach surf life saver picked up a cocaine brick while on patrol – one of the 256kg found over the past four months.
“There was understandably community concern when cocaine washed up on beaches – beaches where our children play, swim and eat,” AFP Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
“The AFP and our partners are driven to strike at all levels of organised crime groups, and ensure that we make it harder for other criminals to take their place.
“That means we will focus on the heads of syndicates and those who work with them.”
Roberts also used the nickname John Dillinger in reference to a gangster from the United States who was infamous during the Depression era.
He was also hit with another 12 charges relating to claims that he ordered associates to shoot, firebomb and bash his customers.
Police also accused him of being linked to a 560kg cocaine shipment seized off Western Australia’s coast in August last year.
The AFP also alleged that since late last year Roberts was planning to bring in another 20 tons of cocaine, ice and heroin into Australia.
Sources claim that Roberts had links to major international drug cartels.
In Australia, it is suspected he had links to the Comancheros bikie gang, which has a national drug distribution network.
He was believed to use encrypted apps to allegedly organise drug shipments and police have been monitoring him for several months.
Roberts was arrested at Aspley in Brisbane’s northern suburbs on Wednesday.
He was targeted as part of Operation Groot, which was a joint investigation between the Queensland Police Service, the AFP, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
Queensland Police Service Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Phelps said police would allege Roberts had hired people to fire shots at houses in Brisbane.
“This type of offending not only impacts those directly affected by these crimes but it also causes considerable and understandable community angst,” he said.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court held a mention hearing for Roberts on Thursday.
He did not attend court but his lawyer told the hearing that Roberts would not apply for bail. The case was due to return to court on May 3.
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