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Charges filed for drug smuggle against six crew members
The Australian authorities have filed charges against six crew members of the 'Raider' alleging they smuggled one tonne of cocaine into the country through an offshore transfer. The five individuals from Honduras and one from Ecuador were charged on March 28, and were appeared in court on March 30. They were currently being charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of drugs into Australia, which has a maximum penalty of life in prison. The French Navy hadintercepted the ship in January and seized 4.8 tonnes of cocaine in Polynesia. The crew, made up of Hondurans and one from Ecuador, contended they were delivering the ship to a buyer in Australia. During a search of the vessel, the cocaine was discovered, but under Polynesian law, they seized the drugs and released the ship. It turned up in Australia on March 12, making a distress call reporting it was low on fuel and other supplies and experiencing mechanical problems. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) escorted the ship into Sydney on March 13, and the NSW Police took the crew into custody for unlawful maritime arrival. The Australian Border Force revealed that they had stopped the vessel in late February while it was 180 nautical miles off the coast of Australia. They reported interviewing the crew and advising them that they would not be permitted entry into an Australian port. The Australian Federal Police and the Border Force suspected that the vessel was part of a large criminal syndicate and that they had continued to track the vessel. They believed the intent was for the supply ship named to be met by boats offshore that would have unloaded the cocaine. The investigations into the origin of the drugs and who has collected them remained ongoing, working with international and domestic law enforcement partners to identify the criminal syndicates and anyone else involved in facilitating the alleged cocaine import. After the vessel arrived in Sydney, AFP, working with the Border Force and NSW Police, obtained warrants to search the ship on March 25, where they seized documents and electronic devices. They reported finding a satellite phone. Aboard the vessel, they discovered three professionally built compartments to hide the drugs and believed it had up to six tonnes of cocaine aboard. It proceeded to Australia after the French seizure, and it was alleged that it conducted at least one drop-off of drugs within Australian territorial waters. The evidence was to be presented linking the six crew members to the delivery of at least one tonne of cocaine. The digital device examinations uncovered further criminality, which was to be tested and put before the courts. The investigation was continuing.
Raider escorted to Sydney after distress call
The 'Raider', which was intercepted near French Polynesia carrying nearly five tonnes of cocaine, has been escorted into Sydney Harbour after issuing a distress call over shortages of food and fuel. The French authorities had seized the drugs in January and allowed the vessel and its 11 crew members to continue to Australia after the cocaine was dumped at sea. After being released, the 'Raider' docked in the Cook Islands, under a distress call for engine repairs. It then headed for Sydney, changed course for New Caledonia and then headed back towards Sydney again.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received a distress call from the 'Raider' on March 12, reporting a shortage of food and fuel. It was escorted into Sydney Harbour on March 13 and was moored in the Snail Bay at Birchgrove, which has specialised facilities, often used for vessels who have issued a distress call. The AMSA was coordinating the response, including the provision of supplies and safe passage, and was also working closely with Border Force and New South Wales Police. The International Transport Workers Federation held concerns for the 'Raider's Ecuadorian and Honduran crew members, as they had run out of food. They were down to 200 litres of water and there's 11 on board, so roughly 20 litres of water per person on board. None of the men have been arrested. The crew was expected to be held in immigration detention while the authorities checked whether their ship was sea-worthy and after that they would be removed from Australia. The Australian authorities have no jurisdiction to take any action over the cocaine seizure by French officials in international waters. The crew had signed employment contracts in December l2025, which detailed that the 'Raider' was to be delivered to new owners in Australia. The intent and the job description given to the seafarers was it was to conduct an international voyage from Panama to Australia. The crew on board may have been unaware they were transporting illicit drugs into the country,. The Border Force was providing the crew with food and water, and they have also been questioned by customs. The crew from Ecuador and Honduras had no idea when or how they would be able to return home. Reports with photos: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-13/ship-involved-cocaine-bust-moored-sydney-after-distress-call-/106454028 https://www.9news.com.au/national/billiondollar-cocaine-discovery-leaves-crew-members-stranded-in-sydney-harbour/34b20f90-9553-49a4-8d18-1547947cddce
Drug smuggling ship raided
In a joint French-US operation in January 2026, authorities boarded the 'Raider' in international waters off French Polynesia and seized the contraband, five tonnes of drugs, which were later dumped at sea. The ship and its crew were released and allowed to continue their voyage, triggering questions across the Pacific about the lawfulness of the operation and who had the right and the obligation to prosecute those involved. The ship was expected to continue its voyage to Sydney, however, it was now bound for Noumea.
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