Cash purchase of boat leads to massive cocaine haul
Police have seized more than a tonne of cocaine worth over $600 million after allegedly finding the drugs on a boat off the New South Wales coast.
Police say they were alerted to the operation when the motor cruiser boat was purchased for $500,000 with cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire last month.
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News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Ex-NRL star Teui Robati accused of rape in pub's disabled toilet
WARNING: Graphic details A Brisbane jury was told a woman began to 'gag' and felt like she was going to vomit as a former NRL player allegedly forced her to perform oral sex in a hotel toilet. Former Brisbane Broncos player Teui 'TC' Robati has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice during an alleged encounter in Fortitude Valley in late 2022. Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol told the jury on Monday that the woman had met Mr Robati, along with at least one other Broncos player, earlier that evening at The Prince Consort Hotel in Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. The court was told the woman had been out that evening drinking with friends before she encountered Mr Robati at the hotel. She alleged Mr Robati invited the woman upstairs to an event, where he led her into a disabled toilet where she believed he was going to offer her a 'line of cocaine'. 'The door closed and almost immediately he put his arms around her neck and started kissing her,' Ms MacNicol said. Inside the toilet, Mr Robati allegedly pulled his pants down and told the woman to 'suck it' despite her saying she did not want to have sex, the court was told. 'She was scared, she started pacing. She covered her eyes, as she didn't want to look at the defendant's penis,' Ms MacNicol said. 'She said 'I don't want to do this, I don't know why I'm here'.' The woman felt 'pressured and compelled' and then performed oral sex on Mr Robati without her consent, the prosecutor told the court. 'The defendant didn't take no for an answer,' she said. The court was told she momentarily stopped before he forced her head down again. 'After about 15 seconds, she started to gag feeling like she was going to vomit,' Ms MacNicol said. She told the court the woman then said she needed to go to the toilet before getting dressed and leaving. Mr Robati's defence barrister told the court the case would hinge on two key arguments: first, that the sexual acts were entirely consensual and initiated willingly by both parties; and second, that even if the jury found the woman did not consent, Mr Robati held an honest and reasonable belief that she had, a belief which, even if ultimately mistaken, would form a crucial part of the defence's case. The jury was shown a prerecorded video of the complainant's evidence and her cross-examination, which was conducted in a closed session. Mr Robati was stood down by the Brisbane Broncos in February 2023, just weeks before the start of the NRL season, after the allegations became public. He has not played in the NRL since. The trial is expected to run for three days.
News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Must be called out': PM under pressure after 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi shot with rubber bullet during LA protests
The Greens have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to seek 'urgent explanation' from Donald Trump after an Australian journalist was shot by police with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was hit while covering street protests that have broken out in LA following the arrests of dozens of people for alleged immigration violations. The moment was captured on camera with Ms Tomasi directly hit in the leg. 'You just f***in' shot the reporter!' a protester yelled at the officer before asking whether she was OK. 'Yeah, I'm good,' she replied. In a statement, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on Mr Albanese to hold the US President accountable. 'US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking,' Ms Hanson-Young said in a statement. 'It is completely unacceptable and must be called out.' Ms Hanson-Young, who is also the Greens spokeswoman for media and communication, said the Prime Minister should seek 'an urgent explanation from the US administration'. 'As Albanese is preparing for his first meeting with President Trump, the first thing he must tell the President is to stop shooting at our journalists,' Ms Hanson-Young. 'Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of a strong, functioning democracy.' In a statement, Channel 9 said both Ms Tomasi and their camera operator were 'safe'. 'While reporting from protests in Los Angeles, 9News reporter Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet. Lauren and her camera operator are safe and will continue their essential work covering these events,' the media company said. 'This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information.' On X, Ms Tomasi told a follower she was 'safe and okay'. The Prime Minister's office has yet to comment on the incident. Protesters ordered to disperse Before 10pm Sunday local time, the entirety of downtown Los Angeles was declared an 'unlawful assembly' zone, with members of the public instructed to disperse. 'Downtown Los Angeles has been declared as an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. You are to leave the Downtown Area immediately,' the police department posted on social media. It comes after cars were burned and protesters clashed with police, resulting in the arrests of almost 40 people involved in the riots. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said enforcement was 'overwhelmed' by the number of people involved in the protests. 'As far as people worried about the violence that we're seeing. The violence that we've seen is disgusting. It's escalated now, since the beginning of this incident. What we saw the first night was bad. What we've seen subsequent to that is getting worse and more violent,' Mr McDonnell said. 'Tonight we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill you. We have adapted our tactics to be able to have a chance to take these people into custody and to hold them accountable.' On Sunday morning, the first members of the National Guard arrived in Los Angeles after Mr Trump ordered 2,000 troops in the city after two days of violence and protests. A new statement from US Northern Command has confirmed that 500 Marines are also prepared to deploy to Los Angeles, should they be ordered to do so. California Governor Gavin Newsom has since come out demanding that Donald Trump withdraw the National Guard, accusing the President of 'inciting' more violence. 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,' he said. Mr Trump posted to the social media platform, Truth Social, to hit back at Mr Newsom as well as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. 'Governor Gavin Newscum (sic) and 'Mayor' Bass should apologise to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job they have done, and this now includes the ongoing LA riots,' he said. 'These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrections.'
News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘I feared for my safety': Ex-Titans player faces final day in court
Moments before a man collapsed on a Gold Coast footpath, a former Titans player says he was being charged at by someone 'angry, swearing' and ready to fight. The trial of former Gold Coast Titans player Oshae Jackson Tuiasau, 30, has entered its final stages, with both sides closing their cases on Monday after six days of evidence in the Brisbane Supreme Court. Mr Tuiasau has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully striking Toro George, 39, who died in hospital eight days after falling and hitting his head on a Surfers Paradise street in the early hours of December 19, 2021. Mr Tuiasau returned to the witness box on Monday for further cross-examination, repeating his claim that he feared for his safety and believed Mr George was about to attack him. 'He was lunging,' Mr Tuiasau said. 'He was pushing towards us … he was angry.' Mr Tuiasau told the court that as the group walked up the street, Mr George was yelling, moving fast, and coming directly toward him. 'Everything happened so quick, everyone was yelling,' he said. Mr Tuiasau said his friend Odaine, who appeared worried, tried to hold Mr George back. 'Toro was a lot bigger than Odaine … he (Odaine) was trying to hold him back but he wasn't really successful,' he said. 'I felt like I was in danger at the time … I knew he was looking to fight. 'I feared for my safety at the time.' The court was previously told there had been a night of escalating tensions stemming from a sexual assault allegation inside the nightclub. A young woman, known to Mr Tuiasau, was celebrating her 19th birthday and testified that Mr George touched her inappropriately on the dance floor, prompting her brother to confront him and sparking a series of heated altercations captured on CCTV inside and outside the nightclub. Mr Tuiasau said he became aware of a commotion inside involving Mr George but did not intervene when someone from his group told him that 'Toro had touched (a woman's) vagina'. He said Mr George had initially apologised after the nightclub incident, and the two shook hands and hugged. But as the group walked down the street, tensions reignited and Mr George allegedly became loud, angry, and aggressive. The jury again viewed CCTV footage of the moments leading up to the punch and the punch itself. Several members of Mr George's family turned away or closed their eyes as it was played. The footage showed shoving between Mr George and other members of the group. Mr Tuiasau, who appeared uninvolved in the physical exchanges, was walking on the far side. Mr George could be seen leaning towards him before Mr Tuiasau suddenly struck him once in the face. Mr George fell backwards, hitting his head on the pavement, and immediately lost consciousness. Mr Tuiasau told the jury that he acted instinctively. 'I didn't have time to think,' he said. He said he hadn't mentioned Mr George's aggression or the earlier nightclub incident during his police interview because he was distressed. 'My mind was scattered … I was kind of all over the place,' he said. 'I couldn't figure out what was happening to me at the time.' Mr Tuiasau also said he was worried about Mr George after the incident. 'I was concerned not that he was dead but if he was OK … I had so much on my mind at the time,' he said. Closing arguments are expected to begin Tuesday before the jury retires to deliberate.
