A 38-year-old Yorke Island man has faced court in Cairns this week, charged over his alleged involvement in an attempt to smuggle 110 kilograms of cocaine into Far North Queensland via the Torres Strait in 2024.
The man was arrested on Masig Island this week, nearly a year after the initial bust at Loyalty Beach, near the tip of Cape York. He is the third person to be charged in connection with the failed smuggling operation.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the cocaine was transported by boat and concealed in six polystyrene boxes. Two men were caught red-handed in September 2024 after landing the vessel and loading the boxes into a white SUV. Both were charged at the time and remain before the courts.
The third man, now believed to have fled the scene by sea, eluded authorities — until now. Following a 12-month investigation, detectives tracked the suspect to Masig Island and made the arrest on Wednesday, August 6.
The 110 kilograms of cocaine seized in the operation has an estimated street value of $35.7 million, enough to supply around 550,000 street-level deals.
