An Interpol alert has been issued for a Brazilian man believed to have been a second diver involved in an ill-fated attempt to retrieve at least 100 kilograms of cocaine from a ship moored in Newcastle.
Police allege Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, left fellow countryman Bruno Borges, 31, for dead when the mission failed.
In May, Mr Borges body was found floating in the Port of Newcastle.
About 50kg of cocaine was found nearby.
Police say an additional 50kg made it into the community, but some remnants were found.
NSW Police believe Mr Borges did not act alone and are alleging that Mr Da Silva was a second scuba diver involved in the operation.
Mr Da Silva remains a wanted man and an Interpol alert is in place for him.
Police have previously reached out to Australia's Brazilian community, amid fears someone is harbouring Mr Da Silva.
Police say investigations by Organised Crime Squad detectives under Strike Force Groove continue.
Interpol's involvement widens net
John Coyne, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says Interpol's involvement in the case allows for a collaboration between police in Australia and overseas.
"It is like a loose team sport and there are a whole heap of players," Dr Coyne said.
"They don't necessarily have a coach saying who does what and when, they sort of self organised."
Dr Coyne, head of the institute's strategic policing and law enforcement program, said the chances of catching a wanted person increased when international authorities collaborated.
"Because that crosses across jurisdictions … police, when they detect one of these big shipments coming into the country, a lot of the time they catch the initial people."
He said the death of Mr Borges prompted police to track his alleged associates.
"Unfortunately, the first diver passed away so he was removed from the network and then as the investigation continues our police have to start looking further afield offshore," Dr Coyne said.
"They keep on following along these networks as far as they possibly can taking out as many people [as possible].
"So Interpol is sort of like our team sport, or our team that allows us to reach across the world and collaborate with other police forces."
