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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Ethan Hamilton

Manslaughter and people smuggling charges laid following death of diver, cocaine haul in port

Police have laid additional charges as part of investigations into the death of a diver and alleged importation of more than $20 million of cocaine in the Port of Newcastle earlier this year. File Picture.

Police have laid additional charges as part of investigations into the death of a diver and alleged importation of more than $20 million of cocaine in the Port of Newcastle earlier this year.

In May, emergency services were called to the port after a male diver was located unresponsive in the water with 54kg of cocaine nearby.

Despite the efforts of witnesses and paramedics, the man could not be revived.

He has since been formally identified as 31-year-old Brazilian national Bruno Borges Martins.

Officers from Newcastle Police District and Marine Area Command established a crime scene, before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad, who established Strike Force Groove to further investigate the incident.

They have been assisted by officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), Northern Territory Police (NTPOL) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) since that time.

A 62-year-old man was charged earlier this year over his alleged role in the incident. He remains before the courts.

Following further inquiries, strike force detectives and ABF officers attended a correctional facility at Grafton and arrested the 62-year-old man about 11am Tuesday, September 27.

He has since been charged with manslaughter, two counts of people smuggling, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

Police will allege the man engaged in unlawful activity which resulted in the death of Mr Martins.

It is further alleged the man illegally smuggled Mr Martins and an associate into Australia from Indonesia.

The man was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, October 5.

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