Australia’s biggest cocaine bust 2024: Eight men face court, one released on bail

Explosive charges against eight of the 13 people arrested over an alleged record cocaine importation bid off K’gari have returned to court in the case linked to a high-ranking Brisbane bikie and South America. One has been let out on bail. LATEST, PHOTOS.

Only one of the 11 men charged with trying to smuggle $760m of cocaine into Queensland succeeded in being granted bail on Thursday.

The men were arrested on the weekend after federal investigators tracked recreational vessel True Grit meeting a “mother ship” in international waters 460km off the Queensland coast to allegedly source the cocaine before the boat returned towards land but got into difficulty east of K’gari.

Eleven men and two juveniles were arrested after a joint Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police operation, codenamed Tyrrendor.

They were all charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.

Supporters outside the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 5 after eight men arrested in relation to a record haul of cocaine appeared via video-link. Picture: Paul Beutel

David John Pfeffer, 35 from Isis and Dundowran man Mark Frederick Sutton, 57, faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on December 2, and again via video-link on Wednesday, December 5. Both were remanded in custody and their charges will next be mentioned in Brisbane on February 7, 2025.

Andrew John Bamforth, Comanchero vice-president Ryan Sean Givney, Geovani Marius, Riccardo Marius, Nukutawhiti Tenika Matika, Zaquias Jack Matika, Daniel Schieven and Donald Vilaylath were mentioned in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 2, and faced court again on Thursday, December 5.

Mr Givney applied to be released on bail on December 2 but was denied.

A major sting in Hervey Bay has landed what police say is the largest cocaine seizure in Australia’s history, 11 men and two juveniles charged over an alleged conspiracy to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine.

The court heard from Mr Givney’s lawyer Adam Moschella that the case against Mr Givney, a 44-year-old from North Cleveland, was circumstantial and “weak”.

Mr Bamforth also made a bail application.

It is alleged he purchased an inflatable boat on November 30, 2024, that was allegedly involved in the transportation of drugs to the bigger boat, the True Grit.

In his deliberation, Magistrate McInnes said Bamforth’s alleged involvement in the conspiracy charge was “extremely serious” as his presence was noted in a number of relevant locations, namely on the True Grit which he paid to refuel.

Supporters outside the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 5 after eight men arrested in relation to a record haul of cocaine appeared via video-link. Picture: Paul Beutel

Magistrate McInnes refused bail because there was an unacceptable risk to interfere with witnesses.

In Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, the brothers Riccardo and Geovani Marius both submitted bids for bail.

The court heard the brothers were circumstantially linked to the the Matika brothers, who have also been charged in relation to the drug haul and will reappear in Bundaberg magistrate court on December 19, 2024, for their own bail applications.

Supporters outside the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 5 after eight men arrested in relation to a record haul of cocaine appeared via video-link. Picture: Paul Beutel

The Marius brothers were mentioned together in the crown case and were jointly represented by Torik Dib.

The court heard the pair were alleged to have been travelling North from Brisbane and were later located by police on November 30 at East Bundaberg KFC sharing a family pack.

Supporters outside the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 5 after eight men arrested in relation to a record haul of cocaine appeared via video-link. Picture: Paul Beutel

The ute they were travelling in was found with items that the Commonwealth police prosecutor alleged were connected to the crime.

Among the items collected from the scene was a manual for a Yamaha boat, black balaclavas and a rope.

The brothers were both born in Papua New Guinea and relocated to Australia at a young age, an element that lawyer, Torik Dib, said would make fleeing hard for the pair considering Australia’s substantial connection to the region.

Supporters outside the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on December 5 after eight men arrested in relation to a record haul of cocaine appeared via video-link. Picture: Paul Beutel

It is alleged that both brothers have no familial connection to PNG and live in Australia on an indefinite partner Visa.

Riccardo was granted bail given he had no history of offending and the severity of the bail conditions.

Geovani was denied bail given his recent criminal history where he was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm in July 2024.

The court heard the 22-year-old had breached court orders in relation to that charged, which weighed heavily on the Magistrate’s decision to deny bail.

The magistrate said neither of the brothers wrote an affidavit, and the one written by Mr Dib does not give any innocent explanation as to how the pair arrived in Bundaberg.

Mr Dib said it might be beneficial to consider the pair as mules rather than involved and willing participants, a charge that carries a maximum of seven years in prison opposed to 20 years for conspiracy charges.

Both men will next appear in court in Brisbane on February 7, 2025.

Originally published as Australia’s biggest cocaine bust 2024: Eight men face court, one released on bail