Two ACT Men Held Over $61m Cocaine Smuggling Plot

Australian Federal Police have arrested two men from Canberra as part of a major cocaine trafficking investigation, uncovering what authorities describe as evidence of a sophisticated smuggling operation using a yacht to import drugs worth tens of millions of dollars.

Matthieu Anthony Rees, 44, and Rachid Kachour, 55, were taken into custody at their Griffith apartment following the discovery of 247 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the hull of a vessel moored at Townsville's Yacht Club and Marina. The seizure represents a significant blow against organized crime networks operating through Australia's northern waters.

The investigation began when authorities impounded the yacht after it arrived in Townsville in April, having sailed from Vanuatu. During initial inspection, officers noticed anomalies in the hull that prompted a more thorough examination. Once the vessel was removed from the water, police allegedly found the cocaine hidden inside enclosed sections of the craft—a technique suggesting careful planning and criminal sophistication.

Federal police allege that both men travelled from Canberra to Townsville in May with the purpose of recovering the concealed drugs. The operation suggests a coordinated effort spanning multiple jurisdictions and international waters.

The arrests took a dramatic turn when officers raided the men's Canberra apartment. As police approached the front door, one of the men allegedly threw a vacuum-sealed backpack containing $290,000 in cash from the apartment balcony—a gesture authorities say points to consciousness of guilt and links the pair to proceeds from drug trafficking.

Both men appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court over the weekend before being extradited to Queensland, where they faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. They are charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000. Kachour faces an additional charge of failing to comply with an order to provide access to digital devices—suggesting authorities believe electronic evidence may be crucial to the case.

Neither man applied for bail, and both have sought adjournments of their matters. Rees' matter has been postponed until September, while Kachour's case returns to court this week.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer characterized the seizure as significant and indicated the investigation was ongoing. "We allege these men are part of a quite organized criminal network," he said, noting that further arrests remain possible as authorities work to determine the drugs' intended destination and identify other members of the smuggling syndicate.

The street value of the cocaine haul—exceeding $61 million—underscores the scale of the operation. It also highlights the vulnerability of Australia's maritime borders to sophisticated criminal enterprises willing to invest substantial resources in importing illicit drugs. The use of a yacht, ostensibly a leisure vessel, as a drug courier represents a common smuggling method that can evade detection more easily than conventional cargo routes.

The investigation involved coordination between the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, and Queensland Police—a multi-agency response reflecting the seriousness of the alleged offence and the networks involved.