Alleged drug smuggler, David John Pfeffer, in court on seperate charge

The man revealed to be the skipper at the wheel of two boats involved in a botched cocaine smuggling operation near K’gari has faced court on a new charge.

The skipper of two boats allegedly used in a billion-dollar, botched cocaine smuggling operation off K’gari before Christmas pleaded not guilty to a further charge when he faced traffic court in Hervey Bay on Wednesday.

David John Pfeffer, who was revealed to be the captain of two vessels used in the alleged attempt to smuggle 2.34 tonne of cocaine into Queensland in November 2024, appeared via videolink from the Maryborough Correctional Centre, where he has been remanded on other charges including attempting to smuggle drugs.

Mr Pfeffer and 12 other people will face Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 7, 2025, charged with conspiracy to import a commercial amount of border-controlled drugs.

The skipper of two boats allegedly used in a billion-dollar, botched cocaine smuggling operation off K’gari before Christmas pleaded not guilty to a further charge when he faced traffic court in Hervey Bay on Wednesday. Pictured is one of the alleged boats the morning it was raided by police in Hervey Bay.

On Wednesday, January 15, he pleaded not guilty to the charge that while he was the master of a ship, he operated it when it was not safe to do so near K’gari between November 25-29, 2024.

Police have alleged Mr Pfeffer tried to use the first of two boats for transporting the cocaine to the mainland in this timeframe, namely the Sea Urchin V, a 13.58m fibreglass boat, but it broke down and he returned it to the Hervey Bay Marina on Friday, November 29.

They then allege that the next day, November 30, a second boat was bought from Tin Can Bay, but that it also broke down off the northern tip of K’gari with the cocaine on board.

This was where it was allegedly intercepted by police and towed back to Hervey Bay.

True Grit, the boat bought from Tin Can Bay, allegedly also broke down while trying to smuggle a record 2.34 tonnes of cocaine onto the Australian mainland.

Mr Pfeffer pleaded not guilty to the charge, stating to Hervey Bay magistrate Trinity McGarvie on Wednesday morning that the “motor vessel was seaworthy” and that they had had some “issues with the motor”.

The matter was adjourned to March 12, 2025 for another mention.

Originally published as Alleged drug smuggler, David John Pfeffer, in court on seperate charge