James Blee Jr denied bail over Newcastle cocaine diving bust

The son of a Gold Coast superyacht operator, who works at controversial eatery Karen’s Diner, has been denied bail over a cocaine bust that resulted in the death of a diver.

A Gold Coast man charged over the multimillion-dollar cocaine bust in Newcastle earlier this year that resulted in the death of a diver has been denied bail.

James Blee, 20, from Southport in Queensland is facing charges in relation to the alleged importation of more than $20 million of cocaine – about 60kg – in the Port of Newcastle on May 9.

James Blee, 20, has been charged over a multimillion-dollar cocaine bust. Picture: Supplied

The scuba diver tasked with collecting the drugs was found dead floating in the water at the Port of Newcastle near tightly wrapped parcels of the drug.

He was later identified as Brazilian national Bruno Borges Martins.

Blee junior is the son of superyacht operator James ‘Blake’ Blee senior who was charged over his alleged role in the incident. He remains before the court and is yet to enter a plea.

The scene at the Port of Newcastle where a drug mule drowned trying the retrieve more than 50kg of cocaine from the Hunter River on Monday. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Following extensive further inquiries, Blee Jr attended Tweed Heads Police Station shortly before 3pm on Tuesday, where he was arrested by strike force detectives.

The 20-year-old was charged with importing commercial quantity of border controlled drug and supplying prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity.

Blee’s lawyer told Tweed Heads Local Court earlier on Wednesday that his client was seeking bail and tendered 50 pages of documentation.

James Blee, 20, has been charged over a multimillion-dollar cocaine bust. Picture: Supplied

Opposing bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Val Short alleged that Blee Jr “knew what his father was doing and that he assisted (him) on a number of occasions”.

Sgt Short said Blee had travelled from Queensland to Sydney in April and collected $110,000 in cash as requested by his father, the alleged “Australian organiser” of the cocaine importation plot.

The Blees had also used encrypted communications which was “not the normal way that a father and son would communicate with each other”, she said.

Sgt Short said it would be alleged Blee Jr also travelled from the Gold Coast to Newcastle on May 8 and helped load diving equipment, and was seen with a waterproof two-way radio allegedly purchased by his father.

James Blake Blee has been charged with importation of a large commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and large commercial drug supply. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Blee Jr was believed to have been the person who collected the Brazilian divers for the ill-fated cocaine retrieval operation, Sgt Short told the court.

She said after Bruno Martins died, Blee Jr booked a one-way flight back to the Gold Coast despite already having a return flight.

Sgt Short said the charges against Blee Jr were “extremely serious” and he faced life imprisonment, and there was a risk he could flee the country or interfere with evidence and witnesses.

James Blee, 20, has been charged over a multimillion-dollar cocaine bust. Picture: Supplied

Defence lawyer Alex Somers, of Nyst Legal, said the case against his client was “purely circumstantial” and his involvement at worst was “fleeting and peripheral”.

“At its highest … he’s a very small cog in a much larger machine,” Mr Somers told the court.

He said Blee Jr’s passport had been seized by police and he had not tried to flee despite having been under investigation since May.

Mr Somers disputed allegations that his client had collected $110,000 in cash and said there was no evidence “whatsoever” that he had any interactions with the Brazilian divers.

Mr Somers told the court that Blee Jr worked as a waiter at controversial restaurant chain Karen’s Diner while also pursuing a film and TV career, and had strong ties to Queensland.

James Blee, 20, has been charged over a multimillion-dollar cocaine bust. Picture: Supplied

He said a family friend had offered a “sizeable surety” to secure bail for Blee Jr who was willing to comply with strict conditions including reporting five days a week to police.

Blee Jr’s charges allege he was involved in the import and supply of 108kg of cocaine between May 8 and 9 at Kooragang in Newcastle.

Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy denied bail and remanded Blee Jr in custody to reappear with his father in Sydney’s Downing Centre Court on November 16.

Blee, who was wearing a cream-coloured suit in the court dock, sobbed during the bail application but curiously smiled after he was remanded in custody.

Two supporters who were in the public gallery declined to comment outside court, with one telling media: “Oh, f..k off.”

Originally published as James Blee Jr denied bail over Newcastle cocaine diving bust