<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two Norwegian men have been jailed in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="New South Wales"><span>New South Wales</span></a><span> after they were spotted diving in an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve 80kg of smuggled cocaine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On January 23, 2023, NSW Police received an anonymous tip that a bulk carrier from Brazil was arriving in Newcastle with a package of illicit drugs, concealed as a parasitic attachment on the hull.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The same day, a member of the public reported spotting two men using diving equipment and seabobs at Swansea to Crime Stoppers.</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/national/sora-on-pirie-adelaide-restaurant-bar-raises-age-limit-to-21/9f913892-3262-432e-b904-ff944b5c8fd0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Upscale Adelaide bar bans under-21s from entry</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The witness said the seabobs appeared to have a black tow harness with shackles and weights on either side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The carrier itself docked in Newcastle the next day, January 24, 2023, only to be searched by federal and NSW police officers as well as Australian Border Force officers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Divers retrieved six waterproof duffel bags hidden in the hull.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/norwegian-duo-charged-attempting-to-dive-for-80kg-of-cocaine-nsw/d4e05c25-7cd5-40b8-b68a-faaca99c7090" data-widget-id="AR_5"></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/police-arrest-19-people-over-alleged-melbourne-retail-theft-syndicate/ad718479-3b99-4339-8f2e-2e731c3235c7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Police smash alleged $10 million shoplifting network</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bags contained 80kg of packages which tested positive to cocaine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On January 25, 2023, witnesses on a ferry reported seeing two men in the water at Newcastle harbour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police arrested the men when they returned to shore and carried out a search warrant on their vehicle, seizing items ranging from diving gear, to passports, to bolt cutters.</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/western-australia-surrogacy-reforms-mitchell-and-james-werent-able-to-pursue-starting-a-family-until-today/4429d2a7-a3aa-4a98-bc63-989e2fd89c38" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Mitchell and James are ready to start a family. Until now, one state wouldn't let them</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The subsequent investigation revealed the two men had flown into Brisbane from Denpasar, Indonesia, on January 17 and 18.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They purchased two seabobs worth $56,000 on the Gold Coast, a scuba set in Nelson Bay, and tools from a Newcastle hardware store.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their phones revealed the men had discussed the logistics of retrieving the cocaine from the bulk carrier in an encrypted app group chat titled "Finding Nemo".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The court heard that was what the men had been trying to do in the water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both seabobs were later found fastened to a pier pylon in the Hunter River at Newcastle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both men pleaded guilty to trying to import a commercial amount of cocaine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AFP estimated the seized narcotics were worth $26 million, or about 400,000 street deals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 53-year-old man was sentenced yesterday to nine years and 11 months in prison, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 35-year-old man was previously sentenced on March 13 this year to 10 years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of five years and nine months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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