A fugitive has been captured on a boat in the Arafura Sea after allegedly escaping from rehab on the other side of the country and skipping out on a major drug trafficking trial.
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Hussein Chamas, 35, travelled more than 4000 kilometres from his court-ordered rehab facility in Swan Bay, near Newcastle, NSW, to the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory.
The alleged drug trafficker had almost evaded Australian authorities when the yacht was intercepted by police north of Nhulunbuy.
He allegedly escaped the treatment facility on January 8, missed a court date on January 20 and was discovered off the coast of Arnhem Land less than a week later.
"The community are our eyes and ears and play a crucial role in reporting crime and helping police locate and apprehend offenders," Australian Federal Police (AFP) commander Kate Ferry said.
Police hunt for yacht after late-night escape
Police said a man fitting the fugitive's description was spotted at East Woody Beach in Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory on the night of January 25.
"He was observed flashing a torch to a yacht anchored nearby. The yacht's crew were observed responding by also flashing a torch," police said.
Police said the yacht "was known to investigators" as the AFP and Australian Border Force were conducting covert surveillance on it.
Northern Territory Police went to the beach after receiving the report but were unable to find Chamas or the yacht.
A patrol boat was deployed to intercept and escort the yacht back to the mainland after it sailed north on the Arafura Sea.
Chamas was found on board and arrested.
The crew of the vessel, a Dutch man, 51, and a UK woman, 42, will both be charged with people smuggling offences, police said.
Fugitive tricked by AFP and FBI Trojan horse
The alleged syndicate member was accused of importing commercial quantities of methamphetamine to Australia using the ANOM platform.
The supposedly secure messaging platform, used widely by international criminals, was a Trojan horse that allowed the FBI and AFP to monitor communications between syndicate members.
Chamas was arrested in July 2023 while attempting to leave the country through Sydney Airport.
He was charged with one count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, one count of trafficking commercial quantities of a controlled drug and one count of breaching a firearm prohibition order.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2024.
Chamas' case remains before the court.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
