Superyacht owner's son charged over deadly Newcastle cocaine haul
The son of a superyacht owner who is charged with manslaughter, people smuggling and commercial drug importation has been refused bail over a deadly haul of cocaine found in Newcastle Harbour this year.
Key points:
James Lake Kusviandy Blee was arrested at Tweed Heads He is facing commercial drug importation charges His father is facing drug importation, manslaughter and people smuggling charges over a cocaine haul in NewcastleSouthport man James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 20, was arrested at Tweed Heads Police Station yesterday and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and supplying more than a large commercial quantity.
Mr Blee is the son of James Blee, a Far North Queensland superyacht owner who is facing multiple charges after the death of a diver and discovery of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in the Port of Newcastle.
The body of Brazilian man Bruno Borges was found floating near several packages of cocaine on May.
The 31-year-old had been scuba diving trying to retrieve the cocaine.
The shipment of cocaine had been fixed to the hull of a bulk carrier called the ARETI.GR, which had sailed from Argentina.
James Blee Senior, 62, was arrested at Cairns Airport two days later while trying to board a flight to Singapore.
He has since been charged with Borges's manslaughter and people smuggling.
An Interpol alert is current for a second alleged diver, 32-year-old Brazilian Jhoni Fernandez Da Silva.
Allegations son 'certainly knew'
James Blee Junior describes himself on his LinkedIn page as a videographer, actor and film production associate based in Queensland.
He applied for bail on Wednesday in Tweed Heads Local Court but was refused.
The court heard the 20-year-old Southport man had no criminal history, was pursuing a career in film and television and that he worked as a waiter at Karen's Diner.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Val Short said the offence had a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
"It's an extremely serious offence, one that endangers the community," she said.
"Police allege James Blee knew what his father was doing and that he assisted on a number of occasions."
Sergeant Short said Mr Blee had travelled to Sydney to collect $110,000 in cash in April 2022 and that he had communicated with his father via an encrypted messaging platform.
"The evidence leads to that this was a request of his father," she said.
Sergeant Short said police allege that the collection of money was used to extract the cocaine from the vessel.
"Certainly James Blee knew what was happening," she said.
'Cash is the lifeblood of crime'
The court heard that police allege Mr Blee Junior had assisted with diving equipment and was seen with a waterproof radio.
"It is believed that he is the one that picks up the Brazilian divers from their hotel," Sergeant Short said.
She said there was a risk Mr Blee Junior could flee the country if he was granted bail.
Defence lawyer Alex Somers said Mr Blee Junior's involvement was "fleeting" and "in the periphery".
Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy highlighted the serious nature of the charges.
"It's the situation that these particular offences are 'show cause', because they are criminal activities that cause harm to the community," he said.
"It's difficult to accept he's been involved 'in the periphery.'
"I'm any event, cash is the lifeblood of crime — particularly drug related offending."
Mr Blee Junior is due to face court on November 16 at Downing Centre Local and District Court, the same day as his father's next appearance.
Posted 2 Nov 20222 Nov 2022Wed 2 Nov 2022 at 4:43am, updated 2 Nov 20222 Nov 2022Wed 2 Nov 2022 at 10:57am
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