Man Charged Over Bomb Hoax

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man is due to face court today for making a hoax bomb threat against a flight from Mumbai to Singapore last month.

It's alleged the 39-year-old called Mumbai International Airport Limited from his Newcastle home on March 26 to report a bomb was on board the flight.

The hoax caused major delays to airlines and passengers in Singapore, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force was deployed to manage the issue.

The Australian Federal Police managed to identify the man and later located him at Sydney International Airport where he was arrested and charged with using a carriage service for hoax threat.

UPDATE $245 Million Cocaine Haul Stopped in Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

A multi-agency investigation into international drug trafficking by sea has uncovered 700kg of cocaine in a yacht at Lake Macquarie.

Investigations started in August by officers from NSW Police, the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to investigate the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

The vessel travelling from the South Pacific had been tracked by the Australian Border Force, the National Gendarmeie, Tahiti as well as NSW Police's Marine Area Command and PolAir.

At about 3pm yesterday afternoon the vessel was intercepted at Toronto.

A 68-year-old man was arrested on board the vessel, a 47-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Warners Bay and a 63-year-old man was arrested at a home in Islington - all three were charged with import a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court this morning.

They will all appear back in the same court on January 30.

Mulitple search warrants were carried out across Lake Macquarie as well.

The yacht is still being examined and dismantled at Toronto this afternoon by specialist forensic officers.

The estimated street value of the haul is $245 million.

700kg of cocaine that was found in the hull of the yacht. Image supplied.

Officers dismantling the yacht. Image supplied.

EARLIER:

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Detectives and forensic officers are working to get a massive haul of cocaine off a yacht in Lake Macquarie.

At least half a tonne of cocaine bound for Australia from Tahiti was intercepted on a yacht at Toronto yesterday.

A multi-agency investigation comprising officers from the NSW Police Force, Federal Police, the Organised Crime Squad, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Border Force began in August, targeting the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

As a result of inquiries, officers commenced a joint resolution operation in Lake Macquarie on Wednesday, intercepting a yacht at Toronto.

It's alleged the massive drug haul was found concealed in the hull of the vessel.

The drugs have an estimated street value of at least $107 million.

Three men, a 47, 63 and a 68-year-old were arrested and charged over the alleged importation - they've been formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court today.

The Yacht Which Police Alleged Was Being Used To Import To Import Cocaine To Australia Image supplied

Massive Cocaine Haul Found On Yacht In Lake Mcquarie

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Detectives and forensic officers are working to get a massive haul of cocaine off a yacht in Lake Macquarie.

At least half a tonne of cocaine bound for Australia from Tahiti was intercepted on a yacht at Toronto yesterday.

A multi-agency investigation comprising officers from the NSW Police Force, Federal Police, the Organised Crime Squad, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Border Force began in August, targeting the importation of cocaine by private vessels.

As a result of inquiries, officers commenced a joint resolution operation in Lake Macquarie on Wednesday, intercepting a yacht at Toronto.

It's alleged the massive drug haul was found concealed in the hull of the vessel.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $245 million.

Three men, a 47, 63 and a 68-year-old were arrested and charged over the alleged importation - they've been formally refused bail in Newcastle Local Court today.

The Yacht Which Police Alleged Was Being Used To Import To Import Cocaine To Australia

 Picture: Supplied

One Of Three People Arrested Accused Of Importing Half A Tonne Of Cocaine Picture: Supplied

Security ramped up at Newcastle airport

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Security has been ramped up at Newcastle Airport and throughout the country, after an alleged terror plot was foiled in Sydney over the weekend.

Australian Federal Police swooped on five properties in Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl on Saturday afternoon. Four people, two father and sons, were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill hundreds of people on a plane using a homemade bomb.

A number of items were seized during the search including a meat grinder which is thought to be planned to be used as a part of a bomb.

Travellers were warned overnight security would be stepped up at airports throughout Australia and to allow additional travel time to get through the extra measures.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Airport said they are following authorities instructions and have additional security measures in place at screening points. They say there's no need to arrive hours earlier for flights, but rather just 30 minutes.