Lennon Russell Curtis accused of importing cocaine into WA

Three “incompetent” fishermen found themselves forced to abandon an alleged attempt to retrieve 565kg of cocaine from the sea, hitting the distress button, a court has heard.

Lennon Russell Curtis (right) was charged and subject of an extradition application on March 20 in Rockhampton while co-accused Wayne Harris Cameron (left bottom) and Andrew Brian Charles Drabsch made bail applications and opposed their extradition applications in Mackay court in November 2023. The trio are accused of attempted to retrieve 565kg, worth $224 million, from the ocean offshore of Western Australia in July 2023.

A Central Queensland man will be extradited to Western Australia over his alleged role in a botched attempt to retrieve $224 million worth of cocaine dropped off the side of a bulk carrier into the ocean.

Lennon Russell Curtis, 39, has been charged with one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of cocaine allegedly totalling about 565 kilograms and was before Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 20 on an extradition order.

Lennon Russell Curtis. Photo: Contributed

Mr Curtis’s co-accused Andrew Brian Charles Drabsch, 44, and Wayne Harris Cameron, 53, have been charged with the same offence and were before the Mackay Magistrates Court in November on extradition orders.

Police allege Mr Drabsch and Mr Cameron travelled with Mr Curtis to Western Australia, where they purchased cars and a boat in a foiled attempt to collect the 565kg of cocaine that had been dumped in the water.

Mr Cameron, Mr Drabsch of South Mackay, and a third man, had been driven to Brisbane Airport on July 31, 2023 where they each boarded different flights to the west coast, the court heard during a bail application for Mr Cameron.

Wayne Harris Cameron, 53.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan, in giving a brief overview of the allegations, said Mr Cameron, a father of two, had purchased a VW Caddy for $8000, Mr Drabsch bought a boat for $75,000 and the third man bought a LandCruiser for $39,000.

The court heard they had claimed to be on a fishing trip but were described as “incompetent and inexperienced” with boating and fishing.

Ms Hartigan said there were further allegations a bulk carrier had come into the area and dropped 565kg of cocaine into the water.

The court heard Mr Drabsch and the third man had allegedly gone out in the boat but had been unable to retrieve the drugs, encountered some difficulty, and had to hit the distress button to be rescued.

It is alleged Mr Cameron had been hanging around the boat ramp and initially gave a false name to police.

He and Mr Drabsch allegedly drove back to Mackay to avoid flying, the court heard.

Ms Hartigan said police alleged others went to Western Australia and had success in retrieving the drugs, which were later seized from a property.

Mackay CIB detectives arrested Mr Drabsch and Mr Cameron in a joint operation with Australian Federal Police.

On August 11, 2023 authorities raided a Kalbarri property, about 570km northwest of Perth, where they allegedly found and seized 560kg of cocaine wrapped in plastic, as well as a boat, two vehicles and about $30,000 in cash.

Two Mackay men have been extradited to WA over attempted drug importation allegations after AFP officers found 560kg of cocaine at a Kalbarri property, about 570km northwest of Perth. Pictures: AFP

Three other men were arrested in relation to the search warrant.

It is understood this is not the same boat Mr Drabsch allegedly purchased.

The mammoth stash is worth about $224m at street level and could have been responsible for about 2.8m individual deals.

Two Mackay men have been extradited to WA over attempted drug importation allegations after AFP officers found 560kg of cocaine at a Kalbarri property, about 570km northwest of Perth. Pictures: AFP

Mr Cameron and Mr Drabsch initially both pushed for a bail application, with Ms Hartigan indicating she would not consider it unless each could put forward a $100,000 surety.

Ms Hartigan said the charge was “extremely serious” and it was a significant amount of drugs likely to come with a hefty penalty of up to 20 years jail if convicted.

She found there was a very strong case against all the co-accused.

Bail was rejected for Mr Cameron, while Mr Drabsch abandoned a freedom bid midway through. Both were remanded in custody and extradited to the west coast to face court days later.

Mr Curtis, who is from Mackay, did not make a bail application nor oppose the extradition order on March 21 before it was approved by Magistrate Cameron Press.

He was expected to fly out of Rockhampton on March 21 to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on March 22.

Originally published as Lennon Russell Curtis accused of importing cocaine into WA