Two men accused of importing cocaine worth more than $61 million (US$41 million) into Queensland by sea will remain in custody.
Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, both from Griffith in the ACT, were arrested at their Canberra apartment on Thursday as part of an investigation into a quarter-ton of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.
Police say one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum-sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the officers knocked on the front door.
Australian Federal Police alleged the cash was the proceeds of crime, and both men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover cocaine hidden inside the yacht’s hull.
Rees and Kachour appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday before being extradited to Queensland, where they appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
Both men were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more.
Kachour was also charged with failing to comply with an order to provide access to digital devices.
Rees’ solicitor, Ella Scoles, said her client was not making an application for bail and sought an adjournment until September.
Kachour’s Legal Aid solicitor, Axel Beard, said his client was seeking private representation and sought a one-day adjournment.
Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy adjourned Rees’ matter to September 1 and ordered Kachour’s case be heard again on Tuesday.
Commonwealth prosecutor Brianna Finnegan said a partial brief of evidence might be disclosed to the defendants during the next six weeks.
The AFP alleges the yacht containing cocaine arrived in Townsville in April after sailing from Vanuatu.
Australian Border Force and AFP officers impounded the vessel after an initial search.
Officers found minor anomalies with the hull after taking the yacht out of the water and allegedly discovered 247kg of cocaine hidden in enclosed sections.
The AFP and ABF worked with Queensland Police during the investigation.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the cocaine found in the yacht had an estimated street value of more than $61 million.
He said the yacht was a significant seizure, and the men were part of a “quite organised” criminal network.
Investigations continued, and further arrests were possible as authorities worked to determine the drugs’ intended destination, Det Supt Telfer said.
