<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A bizarre international drug saga has unfolded in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span> Harbour, with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nsw-police" rel="" target="" title="NSW Police"><span>NSW Police</span></a><span> forced to rescue the crew of a vessel linked to a $1 billion </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/drugs" rel="" target="" title="drug"><span>drug</span></a><span> shipment en route to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> shores.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 11 crew members on board were left stranded after the French </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/navy" rel="" target="" title="Navy"><span>Navy</span></a><span> intercepted the MV Raider off </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/france" rel="" target="" title="French"><span>French</span></a><span> Polynesia on January 16, seizing 4.8 tonnes of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/cocaine" rel="" target="" title="cocaine"><span>cocaine</span></a><span> worth more than $1 billion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities let the crew sail on after the drugs were dumped into the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/ocean" rel="" target="" title="sea"><span>sea</span></a><span>, however, three weeks ago they were denied entry into Australian waters near the Cook Islands.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-cuba-taking-venezuela-usa-politics-news/ad77bf7e-441b-40fc-b041-37829374c809" target="_blank"><strong><span>Donald Trump says he'll be 'taking Cuba' in latest escalation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Friday, the captain issued a mayday call off Port Kembla after the ship began running low on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/food" rel="" target="" title="food"><span>food</span></a><span>, water and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-emergency-meeting-with-major-fuel-companies-held-as-crisis-continues/3c1b2130-1e3d-4925-a1a0-46747aabfad3" rel="" target="" title="fuel"><span>fuel</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney water police were sent to assist the cargo ship, escorting it to Sydney Harbour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is now sitting in Snail Bay at Birchgrove, but the crew, who claim they were delivering the ship to its new Australian owner, have no idea when or how they will return home.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/billiondollar-cocaine-discovery-leaves-crew-members-stranded-in-sydney-harbour/34b20f90-9553-49a4-8d18-1547947cddce" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>None of the 11 crew members, who are of Honduran and Ecuadorian backgrounds, have been arrested or charged, and they remain onboard. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ian Bray from the International Transport Federation says the crew should be repatriated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-regional-australia-farmer-urges-victorians-to-stop-driving-to-work/f247462b-544b-431b-96cc-4e2076173ef1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Victorian farmer urges commuters to take public transport instead of driving as regional bowsers run dry</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The purpose was to deliver the vessel to an Australian entity," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This isn't a case of people that are seeking asylum, or anything else, they just want to do their job and go back to their families."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The people on board may have been unaware they were transporting illicit drugs into the country, telling authorities they picked the boat up in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/panama" rel="" target="" title="Panama"><span>Panama</span></a><span> and were delivering it to Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Border Force is providing the crew with food and water, and they have also been questioned by customs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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