townsville drug yacht

Two face Townsville court over massive $61 million cocaine haul in sailing boat

Two men accused of importing cocaine worth more than $61 million into Queensland by sea will remain in custody after both did not apply for bail.

One of the accused leaves Townsville Court House. (Image: AFP supplied)

Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, both from Griffith in the ACT, were arrested at their apartment on Thursday as part of an investigation into a quarter-tonne of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.

Police say one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum-sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the officers knocked on the front door.

The Australian Federal Police alleges the cash was the proceeds of crime and both men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover cocaine hidden inside the yacht’s hull.

Rees and Kachour appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday before being extradited to Brisbane on Saturday, and appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Both men were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more.

Kachour was also charged with failing to comply with an order to provide access to digital devices.

Both defendants were not required to appear in person.

Rees’ solicitor, Ella Scoles, said her client was not making an application for bail and sought an adjournment until September.

Kachour’s Legal Aid solicitor, Axel Beard, said his client was seeking private representation and sought an adjournment to tomorrow.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy adjourned Rees’ matter to September 1 and ordered Kachour’s matter be heard again on Tuesday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Brianna Finnegan said a partial brief of evidence might be disclosed to the defendants during the next six weeks.

The AFP has alleged the yacht containing cocaine arrived in Townsville in April after sailing from Vanuatu.

Australian Border Force and AFP officers impounded the vessel after an initial search.

Officers found minor anomalies with the hull after taking the vessel out of the water and allegedly found 247kg of cocaine hidden in enclosed sections.

The AFP and ABF worked with Queensland Police during the investigation.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the cocaine found in the yacht had an estimated street value of $61,750,000.

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Two men charged after 247kg of cocaine found in yacht's hull in Townsville

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Afp charge two men with cocaine yacht import.

This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and the Queensland Police Service.

Editor’s note: vision of the extradition and images of the yacht can be downloaded via Hightail .

The AFP has charged two men with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine as part of an investigation into 247kg of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.

The men, both from Griffith in the ACT and aged 55 and 44, were arrested at their apartment on Thursday (20 July, 2023).

Police allege one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the AFP knocked on the front door and announced they had a search warrant.

It will be alleged the cash is proceeds of crime.

It’s alleged the men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover a commercial quantity of cocaine that was hidden inside the yacht’s hull.

The yacht arrived in Townsville in April after sailing from Vanuatu. After a comprehensive search of the vessel in the water on arrival, officers still believed the vessel posed a threat and restricted the vessel to port for 90 days whilst investigations continued.

Once out of the water, Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police officers found minor anomalies with the vessels hull. Using a variety of mechanical tools, ABF and AFP officers removed 247kg of cocaine hidden in enclosed sections.

Investigations into the seized drugs are ongoing.

Both men appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (21 July) before being extradited to Brisbane on Saturday (22 July).

The Griffith man, 55, is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today (24 July), charged with:

• Importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• Dealing in the proceeds of crime etc. - money or property worth $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
• Failing to comply with an order made under  section 3LA(6) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).

The other Griffith man, 44, is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today (24 July), charged with:

• Importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
• Dealing in the proceeds of crime etc. - money or property worth $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for these offence is life imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the cocaine trade fuelled violence on Australian streets and increased the power of organised crime.

“Every time someone buys cocaine they are lining the pockets of organised crime gangs who are responsible for violence here in Australia and around the world,” he said.

“This amount of cocaine has an estimated street value of $61,750,000.

“That’s money which criminal groups would use to buy weapons, corrupt officials and governments overseas and turn the Pacific into an illicit drug superhighway.”

“The AFP and our partners, through the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Task Force (QJOCTF) work to stop drugs, like cocaine, hitting our shores because illicit drugs contribute to the road toll, child neglect and domestic violence.”

“The investigation remains ongoing and we do not rule out more arrests in the future.”

ABF Commander James Copeman said this is yet another example of Australian Law Enforcement Agencies working closely together to protect the Australian community.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a container laden with heroin, an envelope full of methamphetamine or a sailing vessel packed with cocaine, our officers have the skills, technology and inquisitive mindset to detect it.” 

Queensland Police Service Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow said, “Joint operations like these combine the resources and intelligence of each enforcement agency to detect, disrupt and deter the illegal drug trade in our country.”

 “Targeting the illegal drug trade by disrupting the supply and the distribution networks is a priority for all law enforcement agencies. The aim is to stop them from entering our community and causing untold damages to people and families.”

The QJOCTF is a multi-agency taskforce comprised of members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police Service (QPS), Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and Australian Transaction Reporting and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). The role of the QJOCTF is to investigate transnational serious and organised crime threats impacting Australia.

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• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at counsellingonline.org.au .
• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to turningpoint.org.au .

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Two men charged after AFP finds 247kg stashed in yacht’s hull

A man allegedly threw a backpack containing $290,000 off his apartment balcony when police came knocking about a massive cocaine seizure.

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Two men have been arrested after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) uncovered 247kg of cocaine stashed in a yacht moored in Townsville.

The men, both from Griffith, were on Thursday arrested at their apartment, where police allege one of the men threw a backpack stashed with $290,000 in cash off the balcony. The AFP will allege the cash was a proceed of crime.

Police allege the men are linked to a major drug seizure from earlier this year involving a yacht that sailed into Townsville from Vanuatu. The boat was kept at port in April after authorities believed the vessel posed a threat.

During investigations, officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the AFP found minor anomalies with the yacht’s hull and discovered 247kg of cocaine concealed in several enclosed sections of the vessel.

It’s estimated the hefty seizure would have had a street value of about $61,750,000.

It’s alleged the men travelled from Canberra to Townsville in May in an attempt to recover a commercial quantity of cocaine hidden inside the yacht.

Both of the men, who are facing maximum penalties of life imprisonment, were extradited to Brisbane on Sunday and are due to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

A 44-year-old man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime. The 55-year-old also faces these charges, plus the additional charge of failing to comply with orders to reveal private encryption keys or passwords and pins.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said money made from the drug sales would have funded operations of organised criminal gangs.

“That’s money which criminal groups would use to buy weapons, corrupt officials and governments overseas and turn the Pacific into an illicit drug superhighway,” he said.

“The AFP and our partners, through the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Task Force (QJOCTF), work to stop drugs, like cocaine, hitting our shores because illicit drugs contribute to the road toll, child neglect and domestic violence.”

Queensland Police Service Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow commended the collaboration between authorities.

“Joint operations like these combine the resources and intelligence of each enforcement agency to detect, disrupt and deter the illegal drug trade in our country,” he said.

“Targeting the illegal drug trade by disrupting the supply and the distribution networks is a priority for all law enforcement agencies.

“The aim is to stop them from entering our community and causing untold damages to people and families.”

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Cash not flowing?

Canberra men arrested after alleged $62 million cocaine bust on townsville yacht.

It is alleged a yacht in Townsville was found with almost 250 kg of cocaine. Photo: AFP.

Two men from Canberra are accused of being involved in the case of a yacht that arrived in Queensland allegedly with almost 250 kg of cocaine on board with an estimated street value of almost $62 million.

The Australian Federal Police have announced the men, aged 55 and 44, were arrested at their apartment in Griffith last week and extradited to Brisbane on Friday (21 July).

“Police allege one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the AFP knocked on the front door and announced they had a search warrant,” an AFP spokesperson said.

“It will be alleged the cash is proceeds of crime.”

READ ALSO Belconnen Police Station placed in lockdown after man surrendered hand grenade

Police allege the men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May 2023 to recover a commercial quantity of cocaine that was hidden inside the yacht’s hull.

The yacht had arrived in Townsville in April 2023 after sailing from Vanuatu.

After a search on arrival, officers believed the vessel posed a threat and restricted it to port for 90 days while investigations continued.

When the yacht was out of the water, the Australian Border Force and AFP officers allegedly found minor anomalies with its hull.

It is alleged 247 kg of cocaine was ultimately removed after being hidden in enclosed sections.

READ ALSO Multi-agency investigation reveals foreign worker exploitation in ACT and NSW construction industries

The two men are scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday (24 July), charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime.

The 55-year-old also faces a charge of failing to comply with a court order.

The AFP claims the cocaine allegedly seized has a street value of $61,750,000.

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Duo accused of smuggling $61m in cocaine inside yacht arrested in Queensland

• Rachid Kachour, 55 and Matthieu Rees, 44, arrested
• Pair allegedly imported  247kg of cocaine
•  Cocaine found in enclosed space of a yacht's hull

By Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:22 EDT, 24 July 2023 | Updated: 03:04 EDT, 24 July 2023

The two men allegedly involved in importing a whopping $61million of drugs have been identified after police seized almost 250kg of cocaine hidden in a yacht's hull . 

Rachid Kachour, 55, and Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, were arrested at their apartment in Griffith, Australian Capital Territory, on July 20 after police seized 247kg of cocaine from a yacht in Townsville.   

Kachour and Rees were extradited to Brisbane over the weekend and did not appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court when their case was briefly mentioned on Monday.

The pair, charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of a crime worth more than $100,000, made no application for bail. 

It's alleged the men travelled from Canberra to Townsville in May to pick up the cocaine from inside the hull of the yacht. 

The yacht (pictured) sailed from Vanuatu to Townsville in May and was restricted to port for 90 days after officers believed the vessel posed a  'threat'

Australian Border Force officers searched the yacht while it was still on the water after it sailed in from Vanuatu in April. 

Officers believes the yacht posed a 'threat' and restricted it to port for 90 days while they launched an investigation into the vessel.  

Once out of the water, Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police officers discovered 'minor anomalies' with the yacht's hull and removed 247kg of cocaine hidden in an enclosed space in the hull.   

Police allege a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum sealed bag was thrown by one of the men from the apartment balcony when the officers knocked on the front door and announced they had a search warrant.

Investigators will allege the cash is proceeds of crime.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said cocaine trade fuels organised crime and turns the Pacific into an 'illicit drug superhighway'. 

'Every time someone buys cocaine they are lining the pockets of organised crime gangs who are responsible for violence here in Australia and around the world,' Supt Telfer said.

'This amount of cocaine has an estimated street value of $61,750,000. That's money which criminal groups would use to buy weapons, corrupt officials and governments overseas and turn the Pacific into an illicit drug superhighway.'

'The AFP and our partners... work to stop drugs, like cocaine, hitting our shores because illicit drugs contribute to the road toll, child neglect and domestic violence.'

Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police officers discovered cocaine hidden in an enclosed space in the hull (pictured)

Police seized 247kg of cocaine (pictured) and arrested two men from Griffith, Australian Capital Territory, for allegedly importing the border controlled drug

An investigation into the seized drugs is ongoing, with police not ruling out future arrests. 

ABF Commander James Copeman said the bust is another example of Australian law enforcement agencies working together to protect the community. 

'It doesn't matter if it's a container laden with heroin, an envelope full of methamphetamine or a sailing vessel packed with cocaine, our officers have the skills, technology and inquisitive mindset to detect it,' Mr Copeman said. 

Queensland Police Service Chief Superintendent Craig Morrow said disrupting and deterring illegal drug trade in Australia is a major priority.  

'Targeting the illegal drug trade by disrupting the supply and the distribution networks is a priority for all law enforcement agencies,' Supt Morrow said. 

'The aim is to stop them from entering our community and causing untold damages to people and families.'

Rachid Kachour, 55, and Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, were arrested at their apartment in Griffith and extradited to Brisbane to face court. (pictured, one of the men, centre, arrested) 

Both Kachour and Rees face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the alleged offences.

Kachour is charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, dealing in the proceeds of crime - money or property worth $100,000 or more - and failing to comply with an order. 

Rees is charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime - money or property worth $100,000 or more.

The pair were remained in custody, with Kachour's case adjourned until Tuesday while he sought legal council and Rees set to face court on September 1.

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Duo accused of smuggling $61m in cocaine inside yacht

Two men accused of importing cocaine worth more than $61 million into Queensland by sea will remain in custody.

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Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, both from Griffith in the ACT, were arrested at their Canberra apartment on Thursday as part of an investigation into a quarter-ton of cocaine seized from a yacht moored in Townsville.

Police say one of the men threw a backpack containing $290,000 cash in a vacuum-sealed bag from the apartment balcony when the officers knocked on the front door.

Australian Federal Police alleged the cash was the proceeds of crime and both men travelled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover cocaine hidden inside the yacht's hull.

Rees and Kachour appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday before being extradited to Queensland, where they appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Both men were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more.

Kachour was also charged with failing to comply with an order to provide access to digital devices.

Rees' solicitor, Ella Scoles, said her client was not making an application for bail and sought an adjournment until September.

Kachour's Legal Aid solicitor, Axel Beard, said his client was seeking private representation and sought a one-day adjournment.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy adjourned Rees' matter to September 1 and ordered Kachour's case be heard again on Tuesday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Brianna Finnegan said a partial brief of evidence might be disclosed to the defendants during the next six weeks.

The AFP alleges the yacht containing cocaine arrived in Townsville in April after sailing from Vanuatu.

Australian Border Force and AFP officers impounded the vessel after an initial search.

Officers found minor anomalies with the hull after taking the yacht out of the water and allegedly discovered 247kg of cocaine hidden in enclosed sections.

The AFP and ABF worked with Queensland Police during the investigation.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the cocaine found in the yacht had an estimated street value of more than $61 million.

He said the yacht was a significant seizure and the men were part of a "quite organised" criminal network.

Investigations continued and further arrests were possible as authorities worked to determine the drugs' intended destination, Det Supt Telfer said.

Australian Associated Press

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247 kilograms of cocaine seized from a yacht in Townsville, two men charged

• 247 kilograms of cocaine seized…

Nearly 250kg of cocaine was found and seized from a yacht in Townsville.

Charges against two men were mentioned in a Brisbane court today after the seizure of nearly 250 kilograms of cocaine from a yacht in Townsville.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will allege that the men travelled from Canberra to Townsville back in May to recover the cocaine stashed in the hull of the yacht.

The yacht had apparently sailed to Australia from Vanuatu and raised suspicion among the Australian Border Force (ABF) when it arrived in Townsville in April.

The ABF then kept the yacht in Townsville for investigation for 90 days, during which they noticed “minor anomalies” with it’s hull.

247kg of cocaine with a street value of roughly $61 million was found inside the hull and seized.

The two men were arrested in a Canberra apartment on Thursday.

The men faced the ACT Magistrates Court last Friday on charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, as well as dealing in proceeds of crime.

The pair were then extradited to Brisbane the next day, however, did not appear in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court today when the charges were mentioned, as one man remains in custody and the other has had his matter adjourned.

The maximum penalty for the crime is life imprisonment.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer from the AFP said, “Every time someone buys cocaine they are lining the pockets of organised crime gangs who are responsible for violence here in Australia and around the world.

“That’s money which criminal groups would use to buy weapons, corrupt officials and governments overseas and turn the Pacific into an illicit drug super highway.

“The investigation remains ongoing and we do not rule out more arrests in the future.”

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Superyacht seized with cocaine worth £160m to be sold at auction

The MY Kahu was intercepted 80 miles south of Plymouth last year, and goes on sale Wednesday

A superyacht seized from drug smugglers who were attempting to bring £160m worth of cocaine to the UK will be sold on behalf of the government in an online auction this week.

Acting on a tipoff, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers intercepted and boarded the 120ft (37-metre) yacht in international waters near Guernsey last year. They discovered more than two tonnes of cocaine stuffed inside the boat.

The MY Kahu was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (Poca), and will on Wednesday be put up for auction, minus the cocaine, with the money used to fund the NCA’s operations.

The yacht, which has a large saloon, galley, five staterooms and accommodation for four crew, is expected to sell for more than one million pounds.

The auctioneer, Mark Woods, said more than 25 parties had registered interest in buying the yacht, and several potential buyers viewed the MY Kahu during an open day in Torquay last week.

Woods said bidders have flown in from Greece, the south of France and even New Zealand. The New Zealand family are particularly interested in acquiring the MY Kahu, he said, because it was built in 1979 for the Royal New Zealand Navy.

“It’s so rare that something like MY Kahu comes up for auction and she’s a wonderful vessel, so we look forward to seeing her in the hands of the highest bidder and being able to send the proceeds of sale to the government,” said Woods, government contracts manager at Wilsons Auctions.

Woods, who specialises in selling confiscated assets, said the yacht was one of the most interesting items seized by the government under the Proceeds of Crime Act that he has sold.

“We have sold all sorts of things seized under the act. This isn’t our first boat, but it’s one of the biggest,” he said. “We’ve also sold planes, gold bullion, high value jewellery and watches, cryptocurrency and even an Olympic gold medal-winning horse. Then there are the cars – Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys.

“You never know what you are going to be instructed to manage with seized assets and it really captures the imagination of the public when it comes to the auction. It’s quite the story.”

Woods said the boat was in good condition, despite being raided and extensively searched by Border Force officers. “She went through a thorough search process when originally seized. However, after carrying out works, she is now well presented and ready for auction.”

The yacht left Barbados in August 2021 and sailed across the Atlantic. It was intercepted 80 miles south of Plymouth by specialist officers from Border Force and the NCA, who raided the vessel.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of £160m was discovered wrapped in hundreds of sealed packages distributed carefully across the vessel to avoid the weight leading the boat to list. At the time of the seizure, the NCA said the cocaine would have “no doubt been sold on to communities in Britain”.

Four men charged with drug smuggling in relation to the haul were cleared after a trial last month. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped a similar charge against a fifth defendant.

Andrew Cole, 33, of Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, has pleaded guilty to drug smuggling. He will be sentenced on 26 May.

Bidding on the yacht starts at 3pm on 27 April , and closes at 3pm on 28 April.

The Proceeds of Crime Act – which has been called the Al Capone act after the US gangster – was introduced into law in 2003 by then home secretary David Blunkett. He said it would target criminal “parasites” with “flashy” lifestyles and he hoped it would recover up to £60m a year. “We are hitting organised criminals where it really hurts, in their pockets,” he said .

Under the act, £219m was recovered in the 2020-21 financial year, the latest available, according to Home Office figures .

Earlier this year, a court heard that 15 gold bars were seized from a woman passing through Heathrow as she changed planes on the way to India. She was stopped by Border Force officers who spotted that she was trying to carry £650,000-worth of gold, weighing 15kg (33lb), in her hand luggage.

Following a two-day hearing, the bullion was passed to the National Crime Agency under the act. The unnamed woman, who was allowed to continue her journey without the gold, claimed she was moving the bars for jewellers. But invoices she provided were fake.

In 2015, the government recovered almost £1.2m by selling the seized supercar collection of a crime lord dubbed “Don Car-leone’. Alexander Surin, a fugitive living in Dubai, had three Ferraris and a Rolls-Royce seized under the act.

The cars – a Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari 599 GTB, Ferrari California and the Rolls-Royce Phantom – were sold at luxury auction house Bonhams, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, for a total of £1,189,840.

The Enzo, named after Ferrari’s founder and one of just 400 ever built, sold for £897,500. It was believed to be the most expensive car ever seized and sold at a UK auction.

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Yacht Drug Bust: 2 charged after 247kg of cocaine found in Townsville

In recent news, it was reported that two men were arrested in ACT and have charges mentioned in Brisbane court over a $61 million yacht cocaine seizure in Townsville. You are required to read the article for more details and information about the case. Follow us around for all the insights and fresh updates at the PKB News.

Yacht Drug Bust

In a recent turn of events, two men were arrested in ACT and have been charged mentioned in Brisbane court over a $61 million yacht cocaine seizure in Townsville. It was reported that the Brisbane court today is in relation to the seizure of nearly 250 kilograms of cocaine from a yacht in Townsville. According to the Australian Federal Police, they will allege the men aged 55 and 44 traveled to Townsville from Canberra in May to recover the cocaine, which was destroyed in the hull of a yacht that sailed to Australia from Vanuatu. Reportedly, in April, the yacht arrived in Townsville which raised the suspicions of the Australian Border Force which restricted its movement for 90 days while investigating.

However, during the investigation, ABF Acting Commander of Operations in Queensland, Melati Smith noticed minor abnormalities with the hull of the vessel. She said that the ABF officers believed that the vessel posed a risk at which point in time the vessel was removed from the water. During the investigation, the ABF noticed minor anomalies with the hull of the vessel. However, Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer from the AFP said that it was not easy to navigate and extract the drug from the hull. Reportedly, they found and seized 247kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of around $61 million hidden in the hull. The men were arrested at an apartment in the Canberra area of Griffith on Thursday.

Allegedly, the AFB found a bag of nearly #300,000 thrown from a balcony by one of the men when officers arrived. However, it was reported that police will allege that money was the proceeds of crime. The pair faced the ACT Magistrates Court last Friday on charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in proceeds of crime, previously being to Brisbane the following day. Moreover, the maximum penalty for these offenses is life imprisonment. The pair did not appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today when the charges were described.

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Diddy's alleged drug ‘mule' arrested for cocaine possession at Opa-locka Airport

A known associate of Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested Monday in South Florida as federal agents raided the music mogul's mansions in Miami Beach and Los Angeles.

In a civil lawsuit that alleges Combs operated a criminal enterprise that included sex trafficking and the illegal distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms, 25-year-old Brendan Paul is accused of being a "mule" for the mogul's drugs and guns.

Paul was arrested at Opa-locka Airport for carrying cocaine and marijuana-laced candy, Miami-Dade Police said in an affidavit. He faces charges of possessing cocaine and a controlled substance.

Video from TMZ showed Diddy pacing around at the same airport as Homeland Security agents executed the bi-coastal search warrants.

Combs is the subject of a federal criminal investigation amid several lawsuits filed against him in recent months, sources told NBC News.

In one civil lawsuit, producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who worked for Combs between September 2022 and November 2023, alleged that Combs sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him for more than a year. 

Jones also alleged that he had video and audio evidence of Combs, his staff and others “engaging in serious illegal activity." The complaint provides photos of Paul holding pill bottles while on Combs' yacht.

Paul, who played basketball for Syracuse University in 2019, bonded out of jail Tuesday morning.

On Monday, music mogul's homes in  Los Angeles  and  Miami  were searched by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigators and other law enforcement. Officials said the searches were connected to an investigation by federal authorities in New York.

Footage from Chopper 6 showed multiple agents at the rapper's property on the exclusive Star Island. NBC6 captured agents walking through the more than $30-million home with paper bags and walking out with multiple boxes and laptops. Among the items seized were several phones and guns, law enforcement sources said.

In a statement on Tuesday, Combs' attorney called the raid an "unprecedented ambush" and the mogul "is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated," Aaron Dyer's statement said in part.

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What Is Going On With Diddy?

Where is he why were his homes raided by homeland security here’s what we know..

On Monday, headlines blared with the news that two homes belonging to hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs were being raided by law enforcement. This news came a few months after a bombshell lawsuit, accusing Combs of sexual assault, was filed by his former girlfriend—a seemingly dam-breaking moment that led to a number of other women, and a man Combs recently worked with, filing similar suits of their own. (Combs has denied all wrongdoing.) Since Monday, various incongruous reports surrounding the reasons for the raids, Combs’ whereabouts, and information on other involved players, were released, making it hard to parse what we actually know. Below, a recap of what is going on with the creator of Bad Boy Entertainment and a breakdown of everything that has happened since Monday.

What exactly are the allegations against Diddy? It seems like they’ve kept piling up.

While the full and lengthy story of the numerous allegations against Diddy is still unfolding, it’s worth noting that the majority of the suits against Diddy were launched last year after his former girlfriend, the singer Cassie, sued Combs in federal court on Nov. 16 on various claims of sexual assault and intimidation. Though that suit was settled out of court the following day —yes, you read that correctly— three more suits were subsequently filed by women who similarly accused Combs of various sex crimes including rape and sex trafficking. The first three suits (including Cassie’s) were filed in rapid succession due to the impending Nov. 24 deadline for New York’s Adult Survivor’s Act , which, for one year, extended the statute of limitations for adult victims to pursue legal action against their alleged abusers to 20 years. On Dec. 6, the fourth lawsuit , from a Jane Doe, was filed under a similar yet different New York City piece of legislation called the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act.

Following the fourth filing, Combs released a statement via his Instagram denouncing all of the claims, saying:

For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family, and for the truth.

However, this was not the end of the hip-hop artist’s mounting legal trouble. A month ago, on Feb. 26, the producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr., alleged in a 73-page legal filing with photographs and graphic details that, among other non-sexual offenses, Combs drugged, threatened, and sexually harassed him while they were working on Combs’ 2023 album The Love Album: Off the Grid . In a statement made to the Times , Combs’ lawyer, Shawn Holley, stated that “Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar,” calling the producer’s allegations “pure fiction,” and claiming that they have “overwhelming, indisputable proof” that his assertions are fabricated. However, this did not stop Jones Jr., who amended his federal complaint on Monday, to also accuse actor Cuba Gooding Jr. of sexual assault and harrassment while on Combs’ yacht.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is also involved in this?

Allegedly, according to this lawsuit. Gooding Jr. has also been embroiled in legal action for alleged sexual misconduct for the past couple of years, including a settlement in June on a rape allegation involving a 2013 incident , as well as a current lawsuit filed by two women. Gooding Jr. previously pleaded guilty to some of the allegations of these two women but did no jail time. That was a lot. Now that I know the overview of the allegations, can you please explain to me what the hell is currently going on?

On Monday, federal agents from Homeland Security, alongside local law enforcement, conducted a raid of Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles homes as part of a sex trafficking investigation.

Wait—Homeland Security?! I thought that department mostly handled terrorism? 

The Department of Homeland Security, which does (with varying degrees of controversiality) mainly concern itself with issues such as terrorism, immigration, disaster prevention, and cyber security, is also responsible for combating human trafficking , with the Center for Countering Human Trafficking falling under DHS purview. This isn’t too surprising considering many human trafficking cases involve plenty of the DHS’ interests, from border security to anti-terrorism. Similarly, Homeland Security was involved in the investigation against R&B singer R. Kelly that led to his 2022 conviction . NewsNation is even reporting that the federal case against Combs is directly modeled after the R. Kelly case, though I have yet to see that corroborated in print.

That makes sense. So, what happened during these raids?

There is video of the raids on both Combs’ L.A. and Miami homes—the former of which is registered to “Bad Boy Films” as well as one of Combs’ daughters—from countless outlets. Meanwhile, TMZ purports to have internal photos showing the aftermath of the L.A. raid. In the footage of the L.A. raid, two of Combs’ adult sons, King and Justin Combs , were shown being detained outside the house, though ABC News reported that this was standard procedure, and the sons were released without charges. It is unclear whether or not his other children, some of whom are minors, were present or detained. Most notably, one thing that cannot be seen in the footage was Combs himself, as his whereabouts at the time were unknown.

What do you mean his whereabouts were unknown?

Because Combs was not present during the raids, and because he could not be located specifically, and because there were some seemingly conflicting reports about where his private jet was and whether or not he was even on it, myriad versions of “Where is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?” headlines were splayed across the internet as the public, in a matter of hours, became obsessed with the rapper’s whereabouts.

Tabloids, which were tracking Combs’ private jet, reported that the plane landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua, though it was initially unclear whether Combs was on it or not. Because of this, the rumor mill began churning out a narrative in which Combs would have tried to escape to the island, but no less a source than the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda nipped the rumor in the bud by telling Newsweek what other reports also started to state: He was not on the jet . (This narrative never entirely squared away anyway, considering Antigua does have an extradition treaty with the U.S.) However, it didn’t help the rumor mill that Combs’ children were in one place, his private jet in another, and he was apparently in neither of those locations.

As of right now, Combs’ private jet is no longer available to track on the site FlightAware , though it is not uncommon for celebrities to request the tracking info of their jets to be withheld from these public flight databases.

Do we know where he is now? 

While news of the raids was releasing and the Antigua speculation was unfolding, Combs was spotted by TMZ milling around the Miami-Opa Locka Executive airport. The New York Post reported that Combs was allegedly about to board a different private jet from Miami (remember, his usual all-black LoveAir jet was on its way to Antigua).

Per USA Today, a man named Brendan Paul , whom Jones Jr. alleges to be Combs’ drug “mule,” was arrested by law enforcement at Opa Locka Executive Airport on felony charges for “possession of suspected cocaine and possession of suspected marijuana candy.” According to Jones Jr.’s lawsuit, the former Syracuse University basketball player “procured, transported, and distributed ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana, mushrooms, and tuci.” Paul has since been released on a $2,500 bond.

TMZ has footage of Combs walking around the airport and speaking to law enforcement, but the timeline is murky. Some of the tabloid’s reports claim that Combs was with his family when he was approached by Homeland Security and questioned. Some of the tabloid’s reports allege that the photographed exchange with law enforcement occurred “moments before” Paul was arrested. Page Six is reporting that Combs was planning on traveling with his twin daughters to the Bahamas on the day of the raids. Neither Combs’ intentions for being at the airport, the timeline of Paul’s arrest, whether Paul’s arrest even has anything to do with the raids, nor who exactly was with Combs when he was stopped at the airport, has been verified. However, reports (subsequently supported by an official statement from Combs’ attorney) state that the mogul was not arrested or charged when stopped by law enforcement, nor was his travel restricted.

All of that took place on Monday? Goodness. Is there anything else I should know about the events of that day?

Well this isn’t entirely related, but I thought you might like to know that famed director Ridley Scott, apparently Combs’ neighbor, was caught by TMZ allegedly appearing “seriously frustrated” as the raid on the producer’s L.A. home reportedly prevented the Blade Runner director from accessing his own lodging.

Thank you for trying to explain what happened. However, I’m still confused about one big thing. If the events happened so long ago, what evidence could even still be present that would warrant a raid?

We don’t know exactly what prompted the searches, though NBC News reports that multiple people have spoken to federal officials so far about “allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.” However, it’s important to note that, though we know the raids are related to a sex trafficking investigation, we do not know if Combs is a lead suspect in said investigation. Even still, I must remind you that though the majority of the high-profile allegations against Combs concern events that took place years ago, most of what Jones Jr. alleges in his 73-page suit occurred as recently as 2023.

After all of this, did the federal agents find anything in Combs’ homes?

NBC News reported that some firearms were found during the searches, though it is unclear who owned them. Some electronic devices were also seized . We do not know if anything else has been found.

Did Diddy have anything to say about this whole ordeal?

One of Combs’ lawyers, Aaron Dyer, released a statement, seen by Fox News, in which he described the raids as a “ gross overuse of military-level force .” He also corroborates the reports that neither Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested, nor was their travel restricted, adding that “there is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.” Dyer likens this “unprecedented ambush” to a “witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.” Finally, he asserts that “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

Were there any other noteworthy reactions to the news?

Jones Jr.’s attorney told NBC News that, though they “appreciate” the raids, “today’s events are not going to prevent nor delay” Jones Jr.’s legal proceedings in demanding “justice and resolution from the Combs RICO Enterprise.” Meanwhile, the lawyer who represents both Cassie and the Jane Doe issued a statement to Good Morning America , saying that they “will always support” law enforcement in their efforts to prosecuting wrongdoers, and that they are hopeful that “this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”

We will have to wait and see if there are any further developments, though the one thing that seems clear is that we haven’t heard the last of this.

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Greek authorities seize 3.75 million capsules of contraband nerve pain drug pregabalin

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities said Saturday they seized more than three tons of the prescription nerve pain drug pregabalin and impounded a yacht registered in the United Kingdom.

The operation took place Thursday night at the port of Lavrio, 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Athens, the coast guard said.

On the yacht, the coast guard found 3.75 million capsules of Nervigesic, a brand name used by Indian pharmaceuticals firm HAB Pharma for pregabalin. The capsules were packaged in 500 cardboard boxes weighing nearly 3.15 tons, the statement said.

Pregabalin is used to treat nerve pain caused by a variety of conditions, such as diabetes and shingles, and also to treat a type of seizure called partial seizure because it has its origin at a single location in the brain.

The raid was ordered based on information from Greece’s “National Intelligence Agency about the activity of networks of Egyptian nationals in Greek territory,” the statement said.

The yacht and its contents remain at the Lavrio port while local authorities conduct an investigation, the coast guard said.

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Townsville and Magnetic Island are hidden gems waiting to be discovered by adventure seekers cruising this northern section of the Great Barrier Reef on luxury yacht charters . This vibrant city, surrounded by natural beauty, is the perfect starting point for exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and the nearby islands. With YOTSPACE luxury yacht charters, you can embark on an unforgettable journey to explore the region’s stunning dive and snorkel locations , all while enjoying the comfort and elegance of a superyacht, catamaran, or single hull yacht.

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Townsville and Magnetic Island offers some of the most captivating underwater experiences and island adventures on the Great Barrier Reef, a location that is yet to be discovered by the superyacht community. Contact YOTSPACE to explore this stunning region, whether you seek relaxation, adventure, or a deeper connection with nature. Prepare to be enchanted by the wonders of this part of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, the charm of Magnetic Island, and the allure of nearby islands like Orpheus and Hinchinbrook.

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What we know about Diddy’s sex trafficking allegations

Before federal agents raided sean combs’s homes on monday, the famed producer had been accused of sex trafficking in several recent lawsuits.

Armored trucks, helicopters, and swarms of federal agents and police descended upon Sean “Diddy” Combs’s Los Angeles home on Monday — part of a bicoastal raid carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, which also searched his Miami residence. A law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the searches are part of a sex trafficking investigation.

Combs has long been considered one of the most influential people in the music industry: a Grammy-winning producer and artist with a reputation for throwing lavish, star-studded parties. But over the last four months, the hip-hop mogul, who also has gone by the stage names Puff Daddy, Puffy and P. Diddy, has been the focus of five lawsuits alleging physical abuse, sexual violence and sex trafficking. The accusations span more than 30 years, from 2023 back to the start of Combs’s career in the early ’90s, when he was a wunderkind producer at Uptown Records. Combs has denied all the allegations against him.

Combs attorney Aaron Dyer called the searches a “a gross overuse of military-level force” and “a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.” He noted that his client has not been arrested, and he added: “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

But some experts think Diddy could soon face even more trouble.

“For them to actually go this far to a raid on property, they have to have some really clear reason for that. It has to be justified,” said Ann Olivarius, an attorney with more than 30 years experience with sexual harassment cases.

Here’s what we know about the sex trafficking allegations against Combs.

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Lawsuits accuse combs of drugging and sex trafficking people.

Five lawsuits alleging sexual assault have been filed against Combs in the last four months. Two were filed in the New York County court, with both complainants alleging that Combs had raped them in the early ’90s, when he was still an up-and-coming producer at Uptown Records.

Three were filed with the Southern District of New York’s federal court, alleging that Combs not only sexually assaulted the plaintiffs, but also trafficked them or forced them to traffic others.

Cassie, an R&B singer who was once signed to Combs’s Bad Boy label, said she endured more than a decade of “abuse, violence and sex trafficking” in a lawsuit filed on Nov. 16, 2023. She said she and Combs met when she was 19 and he was 37, and they dated from 2007 to 2018. As the head of the record company to which she was signed, Combs was also Cassie’s boss.

In her lawsuit, Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, accused Combs of forcing her to participate in sex parties, which he referred to as “freak-offs.” For these events, Cassie alleged that Combs would make her and his employees fly male sex workers to him “in multiple cities in the United States as well as abroad.”

According to the lawsuit, Combs would give Cassie ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, alcohol and other drugs in “excessive amounts” during these parties. For Cassie to recover from these encounters, “it became commonplace to get IV fluids in the days after,” the lawsuit says.

Combs also physically abused Cassie at these parties, the lawsuit alleges. One party in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 allegedly ended in a fight that was caught on hotel cameras; Cassie claims that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 afterward for its security footage.

Combs vehemently denied Cassie’s allegations, calling them “offensive” and “outrageous” and accusing the singer of “seeking a payday.” Combs and Cassie reached a settlement the next day, the details of which have not been disclosed. Other suits are ongoing.

A month later, a woman identified only as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs and others coerced her into flying from Detroit to New York City to hang out with him at his studio in 2003, when she was 17.

At the time, Combs was already an established hip-hop mogul and media personality — his reality show, “Making the Band,” had debuted three years earlier, and he was credited with helping launch the careers of hip-hop legends such as the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige and Lil’ Kim.

According to the lawsuit, once the young woman arrived at the studio, Combs, Harve Pierre, who later became the president of Bad Boy Records, and a third unnamed assailant got her inebriated “to the point that she could not possibly have consented to having sex with anyone,” and took turns raping her. Afterward, she was taken to an airport and flown back to Michigan, the lawsuit says.

“Let me absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,” Combs said in a statement in December, which called the accusations “sickening.” His attorneys have moved to have the lawsuit dismissed.

Pierre also denied the woman’s accusations, calling them “a tale of fiction.”

Another suit was filed in February by Rodney Jones, a music producer who worked on Combs’s most recent project, “The Love Album.” The lawsuit claims that he was forced to “solicit sex workers and perform sex acts to the pleasure of Mr. Combs” from 2022 to 2023. According to the lawsuit, Jones believes that Combs drugged him before some of these sexual encounters. Jones alleges that Combs coerced him into recruiting sex workers by promising money, property and career advancement, as well as by threatening physical harm: “[Combs] threatened to eat Mr. Jones face.”

In a statement shared with CNN, Combs’s attorney Shawn Holley denied the allegations: “We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” he said.

According to Jones’s lawsuit, underage girls were present at these sex parties, which took place in Combs’s homes in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, as well as a yacht he had rented in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Trafficking victims were filmed, some lawsuits claim

Several lawsuits allege that Combs had a penchant for filming sexual encounters and sharing them with others. Cassie and Jones claim that recordings were made at his sex parties and that practice was part of Combs’s attempt to control those involved.

According to Cassie’s lawsuit, Combs would film her with male sex workers and gave her explicit directions on what to wear, do and say. These encounters were allegedly filmed on Combs’s phone, laptop and tablets, and occasionally on Cassie’s phone. When Cassie deleted photographs and videos of these acts, Combs “made clear that he retained many videos” of these encounters , according to the suit.

“On one occasion, he sat next to her on a flight and made her watch a video she thought she had deleted, reinforcing her inability to escape and the immense power he held over her,” the lawsuit reads.

In his lawsuit, Jones alleges that Combs had hidden cameras “in every room of his homes.” (According to the lawsuit, Jones lived with Combs for months at a time while he was working for Combs.)

Jones believes that those working for Combs were filmed without their knowledge and consent, as were those who participated in Combs’s sex parties, the lawsuit says.

These recordings, if they exist, would be of particular interest to federal investigators, said Deborah Tuerkheimer, a law professor at Northwestern University. If the DHS investigation goes to trial, “that’s powerful corroborative evidence that depicts the kind of abuse that the accusers are describing.”

Many people were knowledgeable or involved in trafficking rings, lawsuits say

The lawsuits against Combs claim that many people in his circle helped facilitate his abusive behavior.

In Jane Doe’s suit, she alleges that it was Pierre, Combs’s right-hand man at Bad Boy, who first approached her at a Detroit-area lounge. Pierre introduced the woman to Combs over the phone and coerced her into flying out to meet him, she claims.

Cassie alleges that Combs’s employees witnessed him beating her and would attend to her afterward. He also required Cassie and his staff to help him arrange sex workers for his parties, her lawsuit says.

Jones also alleges that Combs ordered his staff to recruit sex workers for parties, and that some were responsible for supplying illicit drugs. According to the lawsuit, Combs’s chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, required all his employees — including chefs, butlers and housekeepers — to walk around with a pouch or fanny pack filled with drugs so Combs could have his “drug of choice” whenever he wanted.

Khorram is one of nearly 30 co-defendants in Jones’s lawsuit, a list that includes Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge, Motown Records CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam and Combs’s eldest son, Justin Combs.

A rep for Justin Combs told the Los Angeles Times, “Justin Combs categorically denies these absurd allegations.” Khorram, Grainge, Habtemariam and Pierre did not respond to requests for comment.

Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.

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Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill formally concedes election defeat to Troy Thompson

Townsville's long-time Mayor Jenny Hill has formally conceded election defeat during an emotional farewell speech.

More than a week after north Queenslanders cast their ballots in the local government election, Ms Hill said there is no likelihood of bridging the gap in votes between independent Troy Thompson.

"Rather than delay this any further, I want to provide some certainty for the city," Ms Hill said.

"Today's announcement concludes 23 years of public service in local government, including the past 12 years as mayor of this great city."

Mr Thompson declared victory on Facebook and thanked Ms Hill for her service.

"It is now time to be forward-focused and begin to rebuild the city we want, without party politics, teams or agendas," he said.

"As the polls have shown, Townsville's community is now ready for a change."

The mayor-elect was disendorsed as One Nation's candidate for the state seat of Thuringowa in 2020.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland is yet to formally declare the outcome of the mayoral race.

With about 73 per cent of ballots counted, Ms Hill trailed Mr Thompson by about 3,000 first preference votes.

Elected in 2012, Ms Hill was the first female mayor of Townsville.

"It has been a great honour to serve this community as mayor and I want to thank all of them for giving me this opportunity," she said.

"I hope Townsville knows we did our best."

Ms Hill led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2019 floods, which saw at least 3,000 homes affected.

She considers the completion of the nearly $300 million Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which has hosted international stars Elton John and P!nk, as among her greatest achievements.

In 2021, Ms Hill was found not guilty of driving without due care and attention after she was involved in a crash which killed a 33-year-old motorcyclist. 

Community is 'angry'

The election outcome is part of a wider wave against incumbent politicians across northern Queensland.

The regional mayors of nearby Charters Towers, the Burdekin, Flinders Shire, Cairns, Mount Isa and Cassowary Coast have not been returned to their seats.

Ms Hill said the result came as a surprise and she is concerned that 30,000 residents did not cast their vote on election day.

"I don't know what's caused it, I think incumbency is an issue and people in this day and age love change," she said.

"I think there is a very angry cohort of the electorate out there and they're angry at everyone."

Dr Maxine Newlands, associate professor in political science at James Cook University, said Ms Hill’s defeat did not come as a shock.

“Her team have been very much part of the furniture of Townsville over the last decade or so.

“In those cases, sometimes people do look for change – particularly if they don't feel that their needs or their ambitions are being met."

“We're also seeing a broader shift of people looking elsewhere for their politicians, and not looking for maybe traditional politicians that have been aligned to a party.”

Ms Hill congratulated her successor Troy Thompson and said she hopes the new council will continue to support major infrastructure projects, such as the Haughton Pipeline .

"You've got a mixed bag of people, some who are experienced and some who aren't," she said.

Ms Hill said she currently has no plans for another political tilt and is looking forward to spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

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