Yacht operator risked diver’s death in coke plot, court hears
Written by admin on November 25, 2024
A superyacht operator who sent two Brazilian divers to collect more than 100 kilograms worth of cocaine from a container ship’s hull knew the men lacked the necessary skills, a court has heard.
James Blake Blee, 64, will be sentenced on Tuesday after the body of Brazilian diver Bruno Borges-Martins, 31, was found floating in Newcastle harbour along with 54 kilograms of cocaine in May 2022.
The Queensland yacht captain has since pleaded guilty to smuggling two Brazilian men from Indonesia into Australia via Darwin as part of a 108-kilogram cocaine importation which involved packages being secured to a ship’s hull with magnets.
The divers were sent to retrieve the shipment using a rebreathing device, however, Mr Borges-Martins was killed in the process.
The whereabouts of the other Brazilian diver Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, remains unknown.
Upon arrival at the scene, police were unable to locate the other 54 kilograms of cocaine and believe it has since made its way into the community.
Blee was arrested over his role and has since pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, people smuggling and dealing with property or money intending that it become an instrument of crime
In the NSW District Court on Monday, the crown prosecutor hit back at suggestions that Blee’s contribution to the scheme was “limited”.
“The crown says the offender is liable for the totality of the importation,” she said on Monday ahead of the sentencing.
“There was a significant amount of border-controlled drugs that were coming into the country … this is an objectively serious offence and the offender’s role is not limited. The offender’s role was extensive.”
The crown prosecutor also argued that the loss arising from the offending was “substantial” as one of the divers lost their life.
“The offender also made some admissions in the record of interview that he recognised that the divers lacked the necessary skills required in using the rebreathers,” she said.
The court heard how Blee was allegedly promised $300,000 for his role in the plot to smuggle the $20m of cocaine into the country, which he agreed to as he was having financial problems at the time.
The crown prosecutor argued the operation was a “sophisticated, very well thought out and planned operation”.
“He did take steps to mislead people and made false declarations in relation to the incoming passenger paperwork,” she said.
Blee created North Queensland Superyacht Marine and Tours in Australia, after Covid affected his Indonesian business interests, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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His biography described him as a captain in “great demand” as a super yacht guide, having piloted luxury charter yachts for the world’s rich and famous in southeast Asian waters.
“His singular wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of charter operations for top-end clients in the Archipelago is beyond legendary,” his profile read.
Blee will be sentenced at 3pm on Tuesday.
