Son of convicted drug smuggler found guilty of retrieving cocaine
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- James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 24, has been found guilty of aiding and abetting his father in a drug operation involving cocaine retrieval from a ship in Newcastle.
- The jury deliberated for over a week before reaching the verdict.
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Warum es wichtig ist
James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, son of a convicted drug smuggler, was on trial for his alleged involvement in retrieving cocaine from a ship in Newcastle. His father, James Blake Blee, had already pleaded guilty to importing drugs and smuggling divers into Australia.
The son of a convicted drug smuggler has been found guilty of helping to retrieve cocaine from a ship in Newcastle.
Queensland man James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 24, pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting his father in the drug operation in May 2022.
The jury retired on May 12 after a two-week trial in the Downing Centre District Court.
After deliberating for more than a week on Wednesday found Blee guilty.
His father, James Blake Blee, pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and smuggling two Brazilian divers into Australia.
In 2024 the 66-year-old was sentenced to a maximum of 11 years and three months in prison for the drug importation offence, with a non-parole period of seven years and three months.
His son denied any wrongdoing.
Messages between father and son
During the trial, defence barrister Daniel Pace said there was no direct evidence the younger Blee knew about the drugs, despite running errands and buying diving gear used in the operation.
Two divers were hired to retrieve the drugs from the ship's hull. Jurors were told one of them remained missing.
Crown prosecutor Katrina Curry said Blee was involved from as early as March 15, 2022, when his father messaged him about a job.
The accused told the court he believed it was about a salvage job.
"Yes, some messages looked suspicious, but at the time I understood my dad to be a normal, regular guy that wouldn't be involved in illegal behaviours," Blee said.
A meeting with 'Irish'
The jury heard Blee Senior asked his son to make sure he had a passport to which he replied, "What do you have in store for me?"
The Crown said his father went on to say that all would be revealed after he met with a mystery syndicate member overseas.
Ms Curry suggested the accused "knew in March 2022 who he was referring to".
On the night of the retrieval Blee Junior said he waited for his father and two divers to return from what he thought to be a salvage operation.
He said he only learned about the nature of the job when his father "spilled the beans" after things went wrong and one of the drivers went missing.
His bail was revoked today. Sentencing is scheduled for July 24.
Worauf zu achten ist
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James Lake-Kusviandy Blee will be sentenced.
Sehr wahrscheinlich · Innerhalb von Wochen
Offene Fragen
- What happened to the missing diver?
- What is the identity of the mystery syndicate member known as 'Irish'?
- What was the full extent of the drug operation and the syndicate involved?
