Olympic kayaker wins appeal over alleged cocaine plot

Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has won his appeal against a conviction for attempting to import $200 million worth of cocaine into Australia.

Baggaley, 48, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in April 2021 of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug in July 2018 and imprisoned for 25 years.

Baggaley was allegedly intercepted by the navy in July 2018 after using a seven-metre inflatable boat to pick up 650kg of cocaine from a ship 360km off Australia's east coast.

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Justice David Boddice handed down orders in the Court of Appeal in Brisbane today that Baggaley's appeal had been allowed.

Baggaley's conviction will be set aside and a retrial will be ordered.

Baggaley is a three-time kayaking world champion and won two silver medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Boddice said the court's reasons would be published at a later time.

Nathan's brother Dru was previously convicted for the same alleged offence and jailed for 28 years but successfully appealed his conviction in December 2023.

Dru Baggaley is likely to find out today whether he will be granted bail ahead of his retrial.