Aussie Olympic silver medallist hobbles into court on crutches over $200million drug plot that went sour when 600 kilograms of cocaine was thrown overboard during police chase
- Olympian Nathan Baggaley faced court over an alleged $200 million drug plot
- His brother Dru Baggaley was caught allegedly throwing cocaine into the ocean
- Dru Baggaley and Anthony Draper allegedly tried to outrun a Navy patrol boat
- While trying to escape, Dru was alleged to have thrown the packages into sea
- Police searched Nathan’s home, seizing cash, white powder and a mobile phone
Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has hobbled into court on crutches to face charges over an alleged $200 million drug plot that ended with 600kg of cocaine tossed overboard during a sea chase off the northern NSW coast.
The 43-year-old faced Brisbane Magistrates court on Friday, charged with aiding or abetting the alleged cocaine importation in August 2018.
On Thursday he faced an extradition hearing in Byron Bay where Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy ordered he be extradited to Queensland to face court.
The former Olympian used crutches to hobble into the dock and was represented by the duty lawyer.
Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley (pictured) hobbled into court on crutches to face charges over an alleged $200 million drug plot that ended with 600kg of cocaine tossed overboard during a sea chase
The former Olympian used crutches to hobble into the dock and was represented by the duty lawyer
He made no application for bail and the matter was adjourned to July 12.
His brother Dru, 36, and co-accused Anthony Trevor Draper, 54, are already before the Queensland courts over the same alleged plot.
Police allege that Dru and Draper met up with a 55-metre red ‘mother’ ship where they picked up around 30 packages in August 2018.
The inflatable boat was allegedly detected by air surveillance 70 kilometres off Byron Bay.
At the time, Draper allegedly told police that he ‘panicked and accelerated’ the boat when he spotted the Navy patrol boat three hours later.
Dru allegedly threw the packages into the ocean as Draper steered the dinghy, while the patrol boat stopped following them to retrieve the drugs, the court heard.
On Thursday he faced an extradition hearing in Byron Bay where Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy ordered he be extradited to Queensland to face court
It will be alleged the kayaker played a key role in the bungled alleged plot, arranging the importation and paying for the boat
The pair allegedly threw overboard about $210 million worth of cocaine they had picked up from the larger vessel.
A Queensland water police boat intercepted the pair and arrested them four hours later.
On Thursday, police searched Nathan Baggaley’s home and business seizing cash, white powder believed to be an illicit substance and encrypted mobile phones, the Australian Border Force says.
Dru Baggaley claimed to be in a de facto relationship with Zoo magazine cover girl Jade Harland (pictured) for two years
It will be alleged the kayaker played a key role in the bungled alleged plot, arranging the importation and paying for the boat used to collect the cocaine with money from the criminal syndicate, ABF says.
He was charged with aiding or abetting the importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
Footage of his arrest released by authorities shows the Olympian wearing shorts and thongs, and using crutches as he is taken into custody.
The trio faces potential life sentences if convicted of possessing a commercial quantity of drugs and drug importation.
Dru Baggaley, who claimed to be a de-facto relationship with Zoo magazine cover girl Jade Harland, said that the packages contained tobacco, not cocaine, while adding that he did not know other members of the alleged drug syndicate.
Ms Harland is the ex-girlfriend of drug kingpin Matthew Delander, who is serving a nine-year jail sentence.
Nathan Baggaley’s brother Dru (pictured) 36, and co-accused Anthony Trevor Draper, 54, are already before the Queensland courts over the same alleged plot
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