Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva: Dark theory Brazilian Newcastle cocaine diver may have been killed
Wanted man Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva (pictured), 32, could’ve been killed by a criminal syndicate following a botched cocaine smuggling operation in May
A Brazilian diver and one of Australia’s most wanted men could have been murdered by a crime syndicate over his failed bid to import up to 300kg of cocaine into the country.
Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, was allegedly tasked with importing hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the Port of Newcastle in May, alongside his fellow countryman and diver Bruno Borges.
However, Borges drowned trying to retrieve the stash from the hull of cargo ship.
That led Da Silva to allegedly flee the scene with his co-conspirator’s body left floating in the Hunter River, along with cocaine bricks weighing 50kg.
Now police sources have told the Daily Telegraph that they believe there is a significant chance De Silva is also dead – killed as a result of the failed operation.
That’s even though police sources also believe he may have gotten away with at least some of the drug haul.
Police believe up to 300kg of cocaine was smuggled in the sea chest of the Argentinean vessel Areti. Gr Majuro (pictured) into Newcastle port in May
‘If you’re a decent criminal group and you’ve had arrests, you wouldn’t leave loose ends hanging,’ a police source told the newspaper.
‘There’s a good chance they’ve dealt with him before he could get caught and talk to us – that’s how ruthless they are.’
Officers found the body of Brazilian diver Bruno Borges (pictured) who was alleged to have been tasked along with De Silva to safely import the cocaine into Australia from Argentina
Da Silva has not been seen since, with an Interpol alert going out last week to international law enforcement agencies.
It’s believed that both Borges and Da Silva were part of a ‘well drilled professional group’ and were hired by smugglers to safely smuggle the cocaine into Australian shores from Argentina.
Borges was found in the water surrounded by cocaine bricks wrapped in yellow plastic. A further 54kg of the drug was retrieved from the sea chest of the Argentinean vessel Areti. Gr Majuro.
Diving equipment complications were reportedly the major factor behind Borges’s death as he tried to retrieve the cocaine from the hull of a cargo ship.
Detectives believe the 54kg in the river was only part of the original shipment of cocaine, which could have been as much as 300kg, the majority of which remains unaccounted for.
There were bricks of cocaine amounting to 50kg floating in the Hunter River in Newcastle along with Borges’ body
Borges and the cocaine were found by police, while De Silva was nowhere to be seen. It’s believed he fled the scene with a stash of the drugs
Investigations into the smuggling operation by detectives have since led to the arrest of superyacht tour operator James ‘Jimmy’ Blake Blee, 62.
Blee was extradited to NSW on a flight from Cairns Airport just two days after Borges and the cocaine was discovered.
He had attempted to board a flight from the North Queensland city to Singapore but was stopped at the airport.
Police will allege he had a one way ticket and was carrying $17,000 in US dollars cash and a further $12,000 Australian.
The Australian superyacht businessman James Blee arrested after a diver died retrieving $20million worth of cocaine has issued a cryptic apology
How the dive tragedy unfolded and the drug haul was revealed
He has been charged with importing large commercial quantities of a border controlled drug and a large commercial drug supply, and told reporters at the airport he ‘regretted the situation I am in’.
‘I’d like to apologise to my friends and family for the general situation I’ve put them in at the moment,’ Blee said at the time.
‘The judicial process will show the end result and what’s going to happen, but the fact it got to this stage, I am very very sorry.
‘They are very serious charges and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to appear in NSW court to clear my name.’
The case continues.
