Irishman Stephen Frances Roche on remand accused of driving Hussein Chamas to NT

An Irishman remains on remand after he was arrested for a more than 4000km road trip, which AFP alleges had a sinister motive behind it. Read the latest.

Darwin Local Court. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

An Irishman is in hot water over a cross-state road trip which ended in the Northern Territory, with the AFP alleging the purpose of the trip was to help an accused drug lord escape custody.

Irish national Stephen Frances Roche, 46, was expected to front Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, charged with a single count of providing support for the offence of people smuggling.

However, Mr Roche did not appear before judge Steve Ledek when it came time for his matter to be dealt with.

Rather, his Queensland-based lawyer said Mr Roche did not need to be brought up from the court cells, as he was merely requesting an adjournment.

In the brief two minute court hearing Mr Ledek delayed the matter until April 1 for a preliminary examination mention.

No application for bail was made, so Mr Roche will remain in custody on remand.

The Irishman was arrested in Nhulunbuy on Sunday, an Australian Federal Police spokesperson said.

He is accused of driving a campervan from Sydney to Nhulunbuy via Queensland with alleged drug lord Hussien Chamas as his passenger.

Mr Chamas, 35, was arrested in the Arafura Sea in a yacht on Australia Day, allegedly trying to leave the country.

The AFP identified Hussein Chamas, 35, as part of Operation Ironside and he is alleged to be a member of a syndicate which used the ANOM platform to import illicit drugs into Australia. An arrest warrant was issued for Hussein Chamas after he failed to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on January 20, 2025. Picture: AFP

He was on bail at the Global Connect rehabilitation facility, 200km north of Sydney, and was expected to return to Downing Centre Local Court on January 20.

Mr Chamas has been charged with illegally possessing a firearm, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

He failed to show at court, with a warrant subsequently issued for Mr Chamas’ arrest.

At his latest hearing in the Darwin Local Court, Judge Elizabeth Morris authorised the extradition of Mr Chamas back to NSW.

Mr Roche is the third person charged in relation to Mr Chamas’ alleged escape attempt.

Federal police allege he picked Mr Chamas up on January 8 in Sydney, and arrived with the fugitive in Nhulunbuy on January 11.

He is alleged to have travelled an estimated 4680km with Mr Chamas.

A 51-year-old Dutch man, Thomas Goertz, and 42-year-old woman Jade Sui Ying Ormiston from the United Kingdom were also arrested on Australia Day.

The AFP charged them both with people smuggling.

Originally published as Irishman Stephen Frances Roche on remand accused of driving Hussein Chamas to NT