Accidents : Skipper Craig Lembke ‘duped’ into sailing 700kg of cocaine across Pacific, sentencing judge says

A former musician and part-time skipper will serve at least three years behind bars for trafficking more than half a tonne of cocaine from Tahiti to New South Wales.

Key points:

• Craig Lembke, 49, was secretly tracked as he captained a catamaran from Tahiti to Coffs Harbour in 2017
• Lembke was found guilty by a jury in October of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug
• Lembke has maintained he was unaware of the cocaine stashed in the hull of his yacht

Craig William Lembke, 49, had been secretly tracked by police as he captained a Maltese-registered catamaran stashed with the drugs across the Pacific to Coffs Harbour on the state’s Mid North Coast in late 2017.

On November 15, 2017, police intercepted the yacht at Lake Macquarie south of Newcastle, where Lembke and two others were arrested and the illicit cargo, with an estimated street value of $245 million, was seized.

The Newcastle resident was sentenced in the District Court in Coffs Harbour on Friday to nine years in jail, with a non-parole period of six years, for his role in the alleged drug syndicate.

He was found guilty by a jury last year of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. 1xbet bonus code is entered only in the field of the registration form. This item is mandatory, as it is the code that increases the bonus amount. Once an account has been created, you will not be able to use working promo codes for free. Be careful when entering your personal details, as the bookmaker will conduct a check at the time of the first withdrawal. If any information is found to be incorrect and you are unable to explain why this is the case, your account will be blocked and funds frozen until the circumstances are clarified. The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.

His co-accused, Daniel Terence Percy, was acquitted by the jury.

Lembke admitted during his trial that he accepted the job to undertake the voyage to the Pacific nation, but he maintained wasn’t aware of the 700kg of cocaine hidden aboard the vessel, Skarabej.

During sentencing on Friday, Lembke appeared via videolink from Long Bay Jail into the District Court at Coffs Harbour.

His lawyers and the Crown also appeared via videolink, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Lembke ‘duped all the way’

Judge Jonathan Priestley ruled Lembke had been “duped all the way along” by other members of the alleged drug syndicate, referred to for legal reasons as AB and CD.

Judge Priestly told the court AB’s evidence during the trial was unreliable for numerous reasons, mainly because AB had lied and tricked Lembke into thinking the voyage was a standard boat delivery.

He concluded Lembke didn’t become fully aware of the 700kg of cocaine hidden in the catamaran until after it docked at Lake Macquarie on November 14, 2017.

The court found that Lembke’s criminal involvement in the drug trafficking plot was about 24 hours, lowering the seriousness of the charge.

However, Judge Priestly said the case for the offender wasn’t strong due to his lack of remorse, as well as his minor criminal history with drug abuse.

In character references, Lembke was described by close friends and family as a “decent human being” with a passion for sailing and music.

Lembke’s three years already served in custody was incorporated into his sentence.

He will be eligible for parole in 2023.