Australian police and border protection services are investigating a bulker that arrived in Newcastle over the weekend after the body of a diver was discovered along the shoreline and packets believed to be cocaine were later found in the harbor.
According to authorities the port had been under observation as a point of risk for drug smuggling. The 60,000 dwt bulker Areti arrived in Newcastle on Sunday, May 8 after a voyage from San Lorenzo, Argentina. The vessel is transporting a load of soybean powder and was routinely inspected during its arrival.
On May 10 the police were called to the harbor on reports of a diver found unconscious along the shoreline. Efforts to resuscitate the diver were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police noted the unusual circumstances of the man believed to be a foreigner wearing a wetsuit with diving gear. They also discovered yellow packages around the harbor which on examination they said appeared to contain cocaine.
Police divers inspected the hull and the area around the 656-foot vessel and believed to be searching for signs of a sea chest possibly containing the drugs. They also reboarded the vessel which is being detained to interview the crew in more depth.
In addition, a review of surveillance footage from the harbor indicated two small boats approaching the bulker overnight possibly attempting to locate the drugs.
