No bail application from superyacht tour operator James Blee accused of $20M cocaine smuggling operation
A superyacht tour operator arrested for his alleged role in a $20 million cocaine smuggling operation has appeared in court after his arrest while trying to board a flight out of the country.
Police & Courts
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A colourful superyacht tour operator who police allege was instrumental in an elaborate cocaine smuggling operation uncovered after a scuba diver was found dead in Port of Newcastle will spend the week in custody.
James ‘Jimmy’ Blake Blee, 62, did not apply for bail in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, where he appeared via video link from Mascot Police Station after being extradited from Queensland.
Blee, of Manoora in the Cairns region, appeared dressed for vacation during his appearance, wearing a tropical shirt printed with sea turtles.
Represented by Peter Bartels on behalf of his Queensland lawyers, Blee did not enter any plea to charges of import commercial quantity of border-controlled drug; and supply prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity.
Police allege the offences occurred at Kooragang on May 8, when $20 million worth of cocaine was retrieved by a third party from a cargo ship.
At the conclusion of his two-minute court matter, Blee asked: “That’s it? Thank you, Your Honour,” giving two ‘OK’ hand gestures via the screen.
It was a smoother appearance than his initial listing in Cairns, where he complained about the possibility of spending the weekend behind bars.
“I’m sitting here since yesterday, five in the afternoon,” Blee said. “I’ve never, I haven’t been able to get in contact with my family, they may or may not know where I am.”
He will next appear in Central Local Court on Friday.
Blee was arrested at Cairns Airport on Wednesday while trying to board a flight out of the country, and an interstate extradition application was approved in Cairns Local Court before he was flown to Sydney.
He was about to board a flight to Singapore when pounced on by Australian Federal Police.
Blee operates superyacht tours in the Whitsundays and previously auditioned for the television show Survivor.
Strike Force Groove was launched to investigate the alleged smuggling operation, after a scuba diver was found dead off the coast of Newcastle on Monday, near 50kg of cocaine worth an estimated $20 million.
The man, who police have identified as a foreign national, was found drifting in a Sharkskin wetsuit and a high-end rebreather.
Police believe he was smuggling the cocaine from inside of the hull of the ARETI.GR cargo ship, and that some of the drugs may have made it to shore before he drowned.
Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow at the time called it a “high-end, sophisticated operation”.
Detectives have since released CCTV of a man and woman they believe may be able to assist with their investigation.
The man is described as being of South American appearance, about 178cm tall and with an athletic build.
He was pictured wearing a blue cap and a white T-shirt featuring an image of a tiger. He was also carrying a duffel bag.
The woman is described as being about 150-160cm tall, with a thin build, and has a tanned complexion with blonde or grey highlighted hair.
She was pictured wearing a purple button-up shirt, dark-rimmed glasses and a green purse.
Strike Force Groove investigations are ongoing, including overseas probes by the AFP.
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