A Norwegian diver has been sentenced to almost 10 years in prison over an 80-kilogram cocaine haul in the Port of Newcastle.
Newcastle District Court heard Jon Birger Karlsen attempted to import the cocaine hidden in the hull of Cyprus-registered bulk carrier MV Stalo.
It was berthed in Newcastle, alongside one of the city’s grain terminals, on January 25, 2023.
Karlsen and his co-accused Johan-Martinius Halvorsen, 35, were part of an international crime syndicate which flew him into Brisbane.
Both men pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
The syndicate bought Karlsen expensive scuba gear and aquatic scooters before sending him to Newcastle Harbour to retrieve the cocaine.
Judge Roy Ellis said the pair practised their retrieval, but were spotted.
“On that day, unfortunately for them, they were spotted by the captain of a passing ferry,”
Judge Ellis said.
“In any event, at that point in time police had already removed the cocaine.”
The court was told Australian Federal Police had removed the drugs after getting a tip off.
When the men made their attempt AFP officers were waiting, shining lights in the water before the men fled.
Aquatic scooters for retrieval
Judge Ellis said they spent almost $60,000 on the underwater scooters and scuba gear.
“Each was given a free ticket to fly out to Australia,” the judge said.
“Both participated in the purchase of two sub scooters and both were involved in purchasing scuba gear.
“His [Karlsen’s] expertise was required to remove the drugs.
“It had a significant weight, in total it is 80 kilos, and you can well understand why the need for scooters in order to get there quickly underwater.”
Public defender Peter Krisenthal said his client [Karlsen] was not aware of the criminal nature of the work.
Judge Ellis was sceptical.
“They knew it was going to entail them in underwater work,” he said.
“It entailed them moving some item from the sea chest attached to the undercarriage of the boat.
“I accept they didn’t know the quantity of the drug, but really — could there be any other inference other than retrieving something that was brought illegally.”
Threats and assistance
Mr Krisenthal told the judge his client had assisted federal police and had been attacked and threatened while awaiting sentencing.
He said his client’s family in Norway had also been subjected to threats.
Judge Ellis questioned whether Karlsen was motivated by threats or financial gain.
“In terms of being pressured to do it, it seems to me that it is a bit hard to walk away from the idea that financial gain had to be a significant factor,” Judge Ellis said.
He said a sentence of 12 years would have been appropriate for Karlsen, without any reductions.
Judge Ellis applied a 15 per cent discount, taking into account assistance to police and threats he had received.
That shaved just over two years off the sentence, equating to a maximum term of nine years and 11 months.
A non-parole period was set at 4 years and 11 months, meaning Karlsen will be eligible for parole on Christmas Eve 2027.
That is due to time already served.
Halvorsen was sentenced in March to 12 years jail with a non-parole period of 5 years, 9 months.
The 35-year-old will be eligible for parole in October 2028.
