Rachid Kachour and Matthieu Anthony Rees alleged cocaine smuggling charges mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court

Two men who were charged after a yacht they sailed into Townsville on was found with $61 million worth of cocaine have had their matters progress in court.

The AFP has charged two men with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine as part of an investigation into 247kg of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.

A duo charged with smuggling 250kg of cocaine via a yacht have had their matters mentioned in a Townsville court as the charges progress.

Rachid Kachour, 55 and Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, have both been charged with dealing with money or other property over $100,000 that is proceeds of crime and importing or exporting commercial quantities of border controlled drugs or border controlled plants.

It’s been alleged by police that the two men travelled from Canberra to Townsville in April last year to recover the $61 million worth of cocaine that was hidden in the yacht’s hull after it had sailed in from Vanuatu.

The AFP charged two men with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine as part of an investigation into 247kg of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville, July 2023. Photo: AFP.

In Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday morning the charges were mentioned before acting magistrate Rhianna Lee who said she would adjourn the matters for a brief period.

Mr Rees defence lawyer said he had sent signed registry committal instructions and submitted them to the prosecution’s office while Mr Kachour’s lawyer said they assisted him in submitting a Legal Aid application that required time to be processed.

The matters were adjourned to the next Commonwealth sittings date on September 2 in Townsville Magistrates Court, both men are not required to appear and are remanded in custody.

Originally published as Rachid Kachour and Matthieu Anthony Rees alleged cocaine smuggling charges mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court