Superyacht owner arrested over alleged role in cocaine bust
A Queensland superyacht tour operator has been arrested as he allegedly attempted to flee Australia just days after a scuba diver was found dead and $20 million worth of cocaine was discovered in Newcastle.
James "Jimmy" Blee, 62, was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Singapore at Cairns Airport yesterday afternoon.
The arrest was made by Queensland Police and AFP officers.
READ MORE: Dead diver found near $20 million of cocaine in Newcastle identified
James "Jimmy" Blee has been arrested as he allegedly attempted to flee Australia. 9News
Blee was taken to the Cairns Watch House and charged with the federal crime of importing a large commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and the NSW crime of large commercial drug supply.
NSW detectives are on their way to Cairns to seek Blee's extradition.
He appeared at Cairns Magistrates Court today but the case was adjourned until tomorrow.
Blee is the co-founder of a company that operates tours and cruising plans for superyachts in North Queensland.
READ MORE: More housing market shockwaves predicted
A dead scuba diver found near more than 50kg of cocaine has been identified as a foreign national. NSW Police
The arrest comes three days after the body of a scuba diver was found in the port of Newcastle next to a South American container ship.
Soon after the diver's body was recovered, 54 kilograms of cocaine was discovered nearby.
The ship, which had travelled from Argentina, arrived in Newcastle on Sunday evening and later that night a rubber ducky and a tinny were seen travelling to it.
The vessel was carrying soybean powder and police are looking at whether the drugs were attached to the outside of its hull.
$20 million worth of cocaine was recovered from the scene. Nine
"There's evidently more people involved than the dead man," Superintendent Rob Critchlow claimed yesterday.
"As most people would realise, people don't scuba dive alone.
"There's obviously safety protocols even with people involved in offending.
"It was quite complicated, some of the devices they used and the presence of two boats indicate at least two other people.
"This man's been left for dead basically, either to die or when he did die, these people fled.
"So it's quite disgusting … regardless of what he was involved in."
READ MORE: Albanese crowned debate winner
The dead scuba diver and suspected drugs were found in the vicinity of this large ship berthed in Newcastle. 9News
Blee has not been charged in relation to the diver's death.
Police have made no suggestions that Blee was involved in the scuba dive.
The dead man was wearing highly technical diving gear including breathing equipment that doesn't emit any bubbles.
The man and suspected drugs were found "in the immediate vicinity" of each other. NSW Police
Critchlow asked anyone who had sold dive gear in the area to contact police.
Inquiries into the death and the cocaine discovery are continuing.
The AFP is also conducting inquiries offshore.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
