Diver found dead near Newcastle cocaine haul identified as Brazilian national
A dead scuba diver found near more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in Newcastle Harbour has been identified as Brazilian national Bruno Borges.
Workers tried to give Borges CPR when they found the 31-year-old unresponsive on the banks of the Hunter River on May 9, but he died at the scene.
Borges is believed to have travelled to Australia after allegedly being hired by drug smugglers to retrieve cocaine from a ship at the port.
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The scuba diver is identified as Brazilian national Bruno Borges. 9News
It is believed he had been trying to retrieve drugs in the middle of the night and police think the package they found could be part of a $100 million haul.
The professional diver's body was found surrounded by bricks of cocaine.
Police said Borges was wearing highly-technical diving gear including breathing equipment that doesn't emit any bubbles.
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A dead scuba diver found near more than 50kg of cocaine at a Newcastle shipping port has been identified as a foreign national. NSW Police
The ship at the centre of the drug incident had travelled from Argentina and arrived in Newcastle last week.
The vessel was carrying soybean powder and police are looking at whether the drugs were attached to the outside of its hull.
CCTV released of two people who police say could help their investigation into the $20 million cocaine discovery at a Newcastle port and the death of a scuba diver. NSW Police
Officers released CCTV of a man and a woman linked to the cocaine haul last week as they continue to investigate the death of Borges and the attempt to import illegal drugs.
So far, police have charged one person in relation to the alleged drug importation plot.
Queensland superyacht operator James "Jimmy" Blee has been charged with importing a large commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and large commercial drug supply.
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James "Jimmy" Blee remains before the courts over his alleged role in the cocaine import. 9News
He remains before the courts.
Inquiries into the death and the cocaine discovery are continuing.
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