The Latest Breaking News from James LakeKusviandy Blee

Superyacht operator's son guilty of cocaine smuggling

The son of a superyacht tour operator is behind bars after a jury found he aided with a plot to retrieve cocaine from a cargo ship's hull that turned fatal.

AAP · May 20

Failed cocaine and people smuggler cops hefty sentence

A superyacht operator has been jailed for more than 11 years for his role in a failed drug-smuggling operation that led to the death of a Brazilian diver.

AAP · Nov 26, 2024

'Greedy' smuggler reveals why coke import turned deadly

A superyacht tour operator who described himself as the "linchpin" of a fatal 84kg cocaine importation explained to police how the operation went so wrong.

AAP · Nov 25, 2024

Smuggler denies culpability for all of $20m coke import

A superyacht tour operator charged over importing 100kg of cocaine that resulted in a Brazilian diver's death says he is culpable for only half of that amount.

AAP · Dec 14, 2023

'50 kilos not 100': Superyacht tour operator disputes quantity of cocaine

'The difference is whether his culpability is one or two parcels.'

Newcastle Herald · Nov 23, 2023

Dead diver in port: Superyacht operator admits importing $20m of cocaine

The massive importation plot was discovered when a Brazilian national was found dead.

Newcastle Herald · Oct 25, 2023

Diver manslaughter charge to be dropped in father-and-son $20m drug plot case

The arrests came amid a multi-agency investigation.

Newcastle Herald · Jun 14, 2023

Court shown timeline of cocaine divers' journey from Darwin to Newcastle

The documents allege that Bruno Borges-Martins, along with another specialist diver from Brazil, were smuggled into Darwin by James Blake Blee, who is also facing a manslaughter charge in relation to Borges-Martins's death.

ABC News · Feb 23, 2023

Police working with overseas agencies after deadly $20m Newcastle cocaine haul last year

Australian investigators are working with overseas agencies to try to track down more suspects believed to be involved in a $20m cocaine importation operation that was uncovered last year.

ABC News · Jan 18, 2023

Superyacht owner's son, 20-year-old James Blee, charged over Newcastle cocaine haul

A 20-year-old man — whose father is facing multiple charges over the fatal incident — has been refused bail after being charged with commercial drug importation.

ABC News · Nov 2, 2022