Melbourne stripper Matthew Luke Hodder arrested over alleged role in international cocaine bust

A Melbourne stripper allegedly caught in a global drug sting has traded his fluffy handcuffs for the real deal after police foiled an elaborate plan.

A small boat was used to carry out reconnaissance in Port Phillip Bay for an international cocaine shipment which has entangled a Melbourne stripper.

Australia Federal Police are trying to find the vessel and believe those on board the 5.2m open-cab boat were on the lookout for police surveillance as they tracked the Spirit of Auckland while it docked in the Port of Melbourne.

The boat, which had a distinctive fish skeleton sticker on its body and a black and white centre console, was seen launching at the Newport boat ramp on September 8 last year while the Spirit of Auckland was stopped off here.

Police later found 91kg of cocaine in the hull of the Spirit when they searched it at Port Chalmers, near Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island.

Former Melbourne stripper Matthew Luke Hodder, 31, and Portuguese national Carlos Davide Ferreira Sampaio, 45, have been charged over the illicit shipment.

Matthew Hodder was a stripper. Picture: Instagram

Hodder has been charged over the illicit shipment.

They are accused of scuba-diving into waters of Port Chalmers on September 17 to retrieve the cocaine, which police say had been welded into the vessel’s hull.

But it had already been seized by United States police and the pair were arrested and charged with conspiring to deal an A-class drug.

The cargo ship’s voyage included South America, the US and Australia before it headed to Port Chalmers.

Hodder, who also goes by the stripper name “Matty Thunder”, is a Melbourne tradesman turned “male entertainer” who describes himself as an “actor, model and influencer”.

His Instagram page is filled with raunchy images and videos of himself living the high-life and performing.

In one video he does a backflip on a worksite which then shows him performing on stage as part of the Magic Men revue.

He also emulates Tom Cruise’s famous Old Time Rock & Roll scene from the movie Risky Business in another posting.

Images posted even show Hodder sporting an imitation Victoria Police patch, purchasing a Mercedes Benz and wearing a Rolex watch.

Hodder also promotes that he has experience on “national television”.

The AFP is seeking help from the public to track down this boat. Picture: Supplied

The boat has a distinctive fish sticker. Picture: Supplied

The AFP is seeking help from the public to track down the boat (pictured above), which has not been seen since last year.

They also want to identify those who were on-board.

“Ongoing international investigations into the criminal syndicate responsible for the alleged drug trafficking have identified a boat seen in the vicinity of the cargo vessel while it stopped in Victoria on its way to New Zealand,” an AFP statement said.

“Australian authorities are investigating if this boat conducted reconnaissance for the syndicate to try to identify any law enforcement interest, while the Spirit of Auckland was passing through Australian waters.”

Ferrera-Sampaio has pleaded not guilty and Hodder has made no plea.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

Hodder will next face court in New Zealand on March 15.

Anyone who can identify the open-cab boat, its movements or occupants is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppers.com.au.

Information can be provided anonymously.