Cairns crime: James Blake Blee refused bail and extradited to NSW by police on cocaine importation charges
Bundled by police through the Cairns airport to a waiting plane, a Cairns businessman facing charges over his alleged involvement in a $20m cocaine smuggling incident had a message for his family and friends.
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UPDATE: In the end, Cairns’ James Blake Blee got his flight out of the Far North – just not in the direction he was expecting to go.
The businessman arrived at Cairns Airport on Friday afternoon surrounded by police officers and cameras as he was extradited to New South Wales, apologising for the “general situation” he now faced.
Escorted by four New South Wales detectives and two Queensland police officers, Mr Blee took the opportunity to apologise to express his regret.
“I’d like to apologise to my friends and family for the general situation I’ve put them in at the moment,” he said.
“I regret the situation that I am in, certainly.
“The judicial process will show the end result and what’s going to happen, but that fact it got to this stage, I am very very sorry.”
Mr Blee was accompanied by police on a flight to Sydney, which departed Cairns at 1.30pm on Friday.
FRIDAY, 12pm: Police prosecutors have revealed that James Blake Blee, 62, who is facing charges of being allegedly involved over a $20m cocaine smuggling incident, was apprehended at Cairns Airport on Wednesday on a one-way ticket overseas and carrying thousands of Australian and US dollars.
In Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, Mr Blee sat in the dock as Magistrate Jacqui Payne heard his lawyer, Gold Coast’s Chris Nyst, speak in his defence via telephone link.
Police prosecutor Sophie Gorrick told the court that Mr Blee was arrested as he tried to board a plane to Singapore using a one-way ticket about 5.30pm on May 11 by Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police officers, and he was carrying a very large amount of cash.
“When he was arrested at Cairns Airport he was found be carrying A$12,100, US$17,608, Singapore $90 and $300 worth of rupees,” she said.
“When we conducted a search of Mr Blee’s home we uncovered a larger amounts of cash, with some hidden in his childrens’ rooms.”
Ms Gorrick told the court that Mr Blee had been remanded in custody as he was alleged to have been involved after the death of man after cocaine was allegedly being moved from an Argentinian boat using divers.
She said police from NSW were in the court to seek approval for an extradition for Mr Blee to appear at Parramatta Local Court on May 14.
“There is very strong circumstantial evidence,” she said.
“We also have CCTV of the defendant with the deceased diver buying sophisticated diving equipment like that found on the diver.”
It is understood that the equipment was allegedly purchased by the defendant from a Newcastle diving supply business.
“Mr Blee was arrested with a one-way ticket to Singapore and his wife is currently in Indonesia.” Ms Gorrick said.
“We believe he is a high flight risk.
“He had recently travelled to Darwin from Indonesia on a boat with two men including the deceased diver and we feel if granted bail he will not appear at Parramatta bail court tomorrow (Saturday).”
Ms Gorrick said police were uncovering more evidence as she spoke.
“More evidence is showing up,” she said.
But Mr Nyst disagreed.
He cited Mr Blee’s long history of living and working in Cairns as “a well known and respected person,” and his family situation with two children still residing in the family home made this very unlikely.
“In fact I understand his youngest child is in court today,” he said.
However, after some time studying the evidence, Magistrate Payne refused his client bail.
“Bail is opposed,” she said.
“In that regard by reading the affidavits there is relatively strong circumstantial evidence linking the defendant to the deceased diver.
“Also there is Mr Blee leaving Newcastle at a time soon after the discovery of the diver’s body with various sums of cash.”
She said Mr Blee was also on notice to appear before the justice system after recently arriving and carrying $29,000 in currency he had brought to Australia.
“Mr Blee is an experienced skipper and there’s the assertion being he could either leave by legitimate means and he also has the means to leave unlawfully because he can skipper boats.
“He recently arrived in Australia skippering a boat that had the deceased diver on board.
“Mr Blee is to be taken to Parramatta Bail Court where I expect his bail application will be refused.”
She said police had seized his passport and Mr Blee had agreed to surrender any passports he might have in his possession.
Mr Nyst said his client “had no criminal history,” but did not protest Magistrate Payne’s decision.
Outside the court NSW Police officer Gilbert Laverdure said he was unable to comment, “as investigations are continuing.”
Mr Blee will be accompanied by two NSW police officers on a Qantas flight on at 1.30pm on Friday to Sydney where he will be taken directly to P
arramatta Bail Court.
Cairns businessman arrested
THURSDAY: A 62-year-old man charged over a $20m cocaine stash allegedly being moved from an Argentinian boat using divers has been remanded in custody to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on May 13.
James Blake Blee was arrested as he tried to board a plane to Singapore about 5:30pm on Wednesday by Australian Federal Police and Queensland police officers.
Mr Blee appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday from Cairns watch-house, where he objected to being unable to contact his family and his likely time in custody in coming days.
He has been charged with importing large commercial quantities of a border controlled drug and a large commercial drug supply.
Prosecutor Sophie Gorrick sought an adjournment.
“The prosecution has only just received a bail affidavit which objects to the defendants bail – we are also waiting on New South Wales Police who are en route,” Ms Gorrick said.
“It just all ties together a lot is a lot more easily when they’re already here.”
Defence solicitor Peter Haarsma did not object and Magistrate Bevan Hughes ruled Mr Blee would appear at 9.30am on May 13.
Mr Blee interrupted to address the court via video link from the watch-house.
“I’m sitting here since yesterday, five in the afternoon – 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 said.
Mr Hughes advised Mr Blee to speak directly to his solicitor but Mr Blee continued.
“Then I’ve got the extradition that will go on tomorrow and I can’t get out, and extradition will be on Friday, which means I will travel sometime on Friday and it may not end there, I will go in (custody) Saturday and Sunday so that’s four times 24 hours, potentially to Monday,” he said.
Mr Hughes repeated the questions should be directed to his solicitor.
“Can I just say, I like to give people the chance to have their say and talk to me because I understand the situation you’re in right now is trying for you,” Mr Hughes said.
“However, I’m also very mindful that when you have a lawyer representing you, it’s sometimes not in your best interest to be speaking directly to me, it’s best that you direct those sorts of questions to your solicitor and he’ll be able to explain it to you.
“Because, Mr Blee, this is a court and there are police officers present and prosecutors present, and you don’t want to be saying anything that may not be in your best interest,” Mr Hughes said.
Mr Blee was arrested after workers found an unconscious diver floating in the water at Kooragang 2 Berth at the Port of Newcastle near a large waterproof sack of cocaine on Monday morning.
He was wearing a Sharkskin scuba wetsuit and a high-end rebreather.
Paramedics performed CPR on the man but he died at the scene.
Police believe the man, who has since been identified as a foreign national, was a drug mule attempting to retrieve about 50kg of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of more than $20 million, from the inside of the hull of the Areti. Gr Majuro cargo ship.
It is believed the diver got some of the drugs ashore before the man’s death.
Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force are assisting NSW Police in their investigation, with one source saying it is not believed the diver arrived in Australia on the ship from Argentina, but rather had been based in NSW for some time doing similar diving jobs for criminal syndicates.
“It (the cocaine) was hidden in the sea chest, it’s a part of the ship that sucks up water inside to be used for cooling,” one officer said.
“We think this was this man’s job and he’s done it before, it definitely wasn’t their first time.”
An empty “bail”, used to carry the cocaine blocks out of the ship, was found along the Hunter River on Tuesday.
The Areti. Gr Majuro docked at the Port of Newcastle about 5.30pm on Sunday, completing its voyage of more than a month from Argentina.
Less than 12 hours later the man in scuba gear pulled up alongside the ship, as he attempted to recover the cocaine attached to the vessel below the surface.
During the smuggling effort the diver suffered complications and died, leaving a waterproof sack of cocaine behind.
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