Operation Lamister commenced in 2014 by the Australian Federal Police and involved several co-offenders charged with attempting to import almost 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a 13-metre yacht.
After extensive surveillance of the yacht’s route throughout Ecuador and the Pacific Islands, the yacht eventually anchored in a Gold Coast marina where the drugs were removed from the vessel.
The two co-offenders met with our client at a café nearby where they were intercepted and arrested by Australian Federal Police. Our client was subsequently charged with one count of ‘Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs’.
After a comprehensive review of the Brief of Evidence by Nick Crawford of our office, it was evident that there was no direct evidence to support a link between our client and the principal offenders, or that our client knew of the dangerous drugs located on the yacht.
Our client entered a plea of not guilty and was committed to trial before the Brisbane District Court in September 2018 with Nick Crawford instructing Doug Wilson of Counsel.
After an eight-day trial, the Jury reached their decision after deliberating for two days. The principal offenders were convicted and the Jury returned a not guilty verdict for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
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