‘Tons of cannabis’ unloaded on reef, Sydney Court told

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 3

‘Tons of cannabis’ unloaded on reef, Sydney Court told

INZPA Sydney i A former Japanese fishing [boat owned by a New Zealander was used to carry a ivast amount of cannabis I from Thailand to a reef i north-east of Australia, the ISydney Central Court of Petty Sessions was told yesterday. The owner. Graeme Lyall Cann, aged 37, a company director, of South Auckland, and the boat’s skipper, Bruce Hamilton Gemmel, aged 32, of Auckland, were among eight men who appeared on a total of 18 charges relating to the importation of the cannabis. Both Cann and Gemmel are charged that between August' 10, 1977, and June 10, 1978, they conspired, at Sydney and elsewhere, with Murray Stewart Riley and others to import cannabis into Australia. Riley, a former New (South Wales police detective sergeant, has already pleaded guilty to related offences. One of the men appearing yesterday, John Lawrence, aged 37, a stevedore, of Sydney, had the hearing of three charges against him adjourned to Friday after his counsel told Mr B. Brown, S.M., that he had certain submissions he wished to make. In addition to Riley, three 'others have pleaded guilty

to related offences, and another accused has said he will plead guilty. ' The seven ’men left at yesterday’s hearing have yet to plead. The Crown intends to call about 100 witnesses and the committal hearing is expected to last about three weeks. Before the Court with Cann and Gemmel are Warren Charles Porteus, aged 34, a furniture importer; Stirling Braddon McCallum, aged 45, a motor trader; Dominic Barrington Brokenshire, aged 40, a driver: Van Henry Simpson, aged 25, a fitter; and Wayne Robert Thelander, aged 26. Brokenshire, McCallum and Simpson each face three charges which allege the importation of cannabis, the possession of cannabis, and conspiracy to import cannabis. Porteus and Thelander are charged with two offences — conspiracy to import cannabis and with being know-' ingly concerned in the importation of cannabis. The Crown prosecutor, Mr F. McAlary, said in his opening remarks that the conspiracy revolved around the act of importation mentioned in some charges. The importation took place on June 9 and 10 this year when a yacht called the Anoa was seen unloading

what was later found to be 2800 kg of cannabis in the Port Macquarie area on the northern New South Wales coast.

Mr McAlary said it was necessary to go back to the voyage of another vessel from New Zealand to Singapore to explain the conspiracy.

He said the Choryu Maru, owned by Cann and with Gemmel as skipper, sailed from New Zealand and arrived at Singapore in the week March 11-18, 1978. “The purpose of the voyage to Singapore is stated to have been the sale of the vessel,” Mr McAlary said. “It appears clear that the sale fell through and a new venture was embarked on.”

He said the Choryu Maru left Singapore about March 25 and went to the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand, where a large. quantity of cannabis was loaded. A second cargo . of cannabis was then picked up from the east coast of the gulf. About April 22 the boat had reached an area known as Polkington Reef, which was south-west of the Papua New Guinea mainland.

The Choryu Maru was running short of oil and stayed at the reef for two days. On August 24 an aircraft chartered from a Solomon Islands company, and witl Cann on board, had flown over the boat, and a note written by Cann had been dropped in a canister. “There are different versions about the contents of the note,” said Mr McAlary. “Gemmel claims it told him to stay there and wait for Cann. Cann says he told Gemmel to bring the boat

i immediately to Honiara because negotiations for the (sale of the boat had fallen j through.” He said the Choryu Maru reached Honiara on April 28 and was given a clearance from there about April 30. Crew members had included Lawrence, Simpson and another man who had already pleaded guilty to charges related to the importation of cannabis. “It is our case that the Choryu Maru unloaded on to a wreck at Polkington Reef several tons of cannabis, which was in hessian bags and cardboard boxes. It left that stored on the reef on or about April 28 before proceeding to Honiara,” he said. On June 16 the wreck was searched by customs officers and members of the Royal Australian Navy. Some three tonnes of cannabis was recovered, he said. Mr McAlary said that after the cannabis was allegedly unloaded at Polkington Reef there had been discussions on how to recover it.

McCallum, Brokenshire, Riley and another man had inspected several vessels with a view to buying one with a range of 3000 miles under its own power. It was finally decided to buy the yacht Anoa at Cairns and, after being fitted with radar and having alterations made to increase storage space, the Anoa left on the morning of May 23. It was the Crown’s submission that the yacht went to Polkington Reef and loaded some of the cannabis before returning to Australia.

.The first witnesses called by Mr McAlary were all

officers attached to the Bureau of Narcotics in Brisbane, and they detailed their observations of the Anoa sailing down the east Australian coast and unloading its cargo.

The Magistrate refused applications for bail on beahalf of the seven men still before him.

The Crown opposed each application. For Cann, Mr C. J. Wynyard, said his client was charged with conspiracy in what could be termed a smuggling operation. Mr Wynyard said Cann had no previous convictions and ran what had been two profitable businesses in New' Zealand before his arrest. Both companies were now in receivership and faced debts of $250,000. It was difficult for Cann to find out what was happening to his businesses from Long Bay jail. When seen by the police he had made a genuine offer to come to Australia voluntarily, but he was not given the opportunity and was extradited instead. Cann had been married 14 years and had children aged nine and six. He owned a house in New Zealand and could probably raise a $15,000 surety if given bail. Mr J. Nicholson, appearing for Gemmel, said his client was anxious to have his name cleared. His previous record of bail for minor offences in New Zealand was good. Refusing the applications, The Magistrate said big money was obviously involved in the alleged offences and it would not be appropriate to grant bail. The hearing continues today.