$61m cocaine haul exposed in major Townsville yacht bust

A quarter-tonne of cocaine worth $61 million has been seized after Australian Federal Police dismantled what they believe is a significant link in an organized international drug network.

The 247-kilogram haul—one of the nation's largest maritime cocaine seizures—was discovered hidden in the hull of a yacht that had sailed from Vanuatu before arriving in Townsville in April. The scale of the operation speaks to the sophistication of the criminal enterprise involved.

Two men arrested at their Canberra apartment on Thursday stand accused of orchestrating the recovery of the concealed cargo. Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, both from Griffith in the ACT, allegedly travelled to Townsville between May 20 and 27 to retrieve the contraband from the vessel moored at the Townsville Yacht Club and Marina.

The pair's attempted destruction of evidence underscores the stakes. Police say one man threw a vacuum-sealed backpack containing $290,000 in cash from his apartment balcony as federal officers arrived at the door on Thursday. The seized cash—itself classified as proceeds of crime—hints at the financial infrastructure supporting the operation and the money flows inherent in trafficking on this scale.

Australian Border Force officers had initially detected anomalies with the yacht's hull during their inspection. A detailed examination revealed the cocaine hidden in enclosed sections of the vessel, triggering the subsequent investigation that led to Thursday's arrests.

Both men appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday before being extradited to Brisbane. On Monday, they faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court, where neither sought bail. Rees' solicitor, Ella Scoles, requested an adjournment until September 1, while Kachour's legal representative sought an adjournment and indicated his client is obtaining private representation. Kachour faces an additional charge of failing to comply with a court order to provide digital device access.

The charges are serious: both men are accused of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000. Kachour's additional charge suggests investigators are pursuing digital evidence related to the operation.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer characterized the seizure as significant and the men as part of a "quite organised" criminal network. He flagged that investigations continue and further arrests are possible as authorities determine the cocaine's intended destination and map the wider network.

Commonwealth prosecutor Brianna Finnegan told the court that a partial brief of evidence would likely be prepared and disclosed to the defendants within six weeks, a timeline that reflects the complexity of the case ahead.