Cardiff electrician Cooper Hollingworth, bailed over alleged $623m cocaine supply plot

A Hunter electrician who is one of five charged after a massive $623m cocaine bust on a 13-metre leisure boat off a small mid-north coast town has been granted conditional bail.

A Hunter electrician who is one of five charged after a massive $623m cocaine bust on a 13-metre leisure boat off a small mid-north coast town has been granted conditional bail.

Cardiff electrician Cooper Hollingworth, 24, applied for bail, igniting a lengthy debate between his solicitor and the opposing police prosecutor.

Hollingworth is one of five men arrested on May 9 after police raided a 13-metre cruiser Sea Ray as it was heading towards the port at South West Rocks.

On-board, police will allege they found $623m of cocaine divided into 1036 blocks – some stamped with Louis Vuitton branding – and hidden throughout the vessel.

Defence solicitor Paul McGirr told Coffs Harbour Local Court that while his client was on board the vessel, and police surveillance showed him getting supplies and pulling anchor, the Crown case against his client was “not strong”.

Jacob Malcolm and Cooper Hollingworth during the arrest after police boarded the Sea Ray on May 9 after a period of surveillance.

Police released dramatic vision of the arrests off South West Rocks, NSW. Supplied by NSW Police.

“There’s nothing to suggest he knew what was in those black bales,” Mr McGirr said, also noting the lack of Hollingworth’s DNA on the packages.

Police prosecutor Sgt Huxtable responded that it was “fanciful” that Hollingworth didn’t know what was on board.

“What were they doing? There was no fishing equipment, no flood lights, no netting,” Sgt Huxtable said.

“There’s no way that the accused person could suggest that he had no idea what was on-board,” she said.

Two of the co-accused seated as police allegedly seized over 1.1 tonnes of cocaine found on the boat which had been under surveillance after it was bought with cash. NSW Police.

The court heard that Hollingworth had no criminal record, had regular work and was supported by his fiancee in court, while he appeared from Clarence Correctional Centre.

Magistrate Jeff Linden approved bail with a cash surety of $150,000, noting Hollingworth’s passport had already been seized and was to remain with the police.

Bail conditions include reporting to Waratah Police Station daily, not to leave NSW and not to communicate with any of his co-accused.

Cooper Hollingworth, Jacob Malcolm 26, Luke Hazell, 28, Rodney James Hill, 35, and Chaiwat Thipsing, 28, have all been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.

Hollingworth, Malcolm, Hazell, Hill and Thipsing return to court on August 26.

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Originally published as Cardiff electrician Cooper Hollingworth, bailed over alleged $623m cocaine supply plot