Cocaine bust brothers have proceedings fast-tracked in Bundaberg

Two Qld brothers who police allege played a role in Australia’s biggest ever cocaine bust are back in the community but not without a price and a long list of conditions. LATEST.

Police work at the scene of one of what is allegedly Australia's biggest cocaine bust at Hervey Bay.

Two brothers in an alleged record cocaine bust have been bailed after putting up a home and $40,000 each in security.

It comes after Nukutawhiti Tenika Matika and Zaquias Jack Matika, both facing conspiracy to import or export a commercial quantity of drug charges, applied for bail in Bundaberg Magistrates Court this week.

They and 11 others were arrested in late November after a boat allegedly packed with more than $700 million in cocaine was intercepted by Australian Federal Police off the northern tip of K’gari (Fraser Island) and towed back to Hervey Bay.

The brothers were represented by Torik Dib, who appeared via court conference call on December 18, 2024.

Their bail applications were originally listed for Thursday 19, 2024 but were expedited on Wednesday.

Court documents viewed by this publication show the brothers were granted bail by Acting Magistrate Stephen Guttridge on a number of strict conditions, including they reside at separate homes in the Logan area (Heritage Park and Greenbank), report daily to different police stations, wear GPS trackers and have no more than $5000 in their possession at a time.

A major sting in Hervey Bay landed what police say is the largest cocaine seizure in Australia. The Matkia brothers are among 11 men charged along with two teens over an alleged conspiracy to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine.

They must also not contact each other, any of their co-accused along with several others whose names are listed in the documents.

According to the court documents, both were released on $40,000 security agreements and in the case of Zaquias a Macleay Island home has also been listed as security.

Police allege the brothers played a role in Australia’s biggest cocaine bust.

The court documents reveal Nukutawhiti Tenika Matika’s alleged offence was committed at Burnett Heads while Zaquias Matika’s charge is also listed as being committed in Burnett Heads and across Queensland and elsewhere.

A final alleged co-conspirator facing the same charge, Donald Vilaylath, also appeared a day early in Bundaberg Magistrate court.

He made no application for bail and is set to reappear in Brisbane on February 7, 2025 along with the 12 others charged over the bust.

Originally published as Cocaine bust brothers have proceedings fast-tracked in Bundaberg