Ship crew involved in French Polynesia cocaine bust sent to immigration detention
Australian Border Force boarded the MV Raider before transferring crew to immigration detention. (ABC News: Seni Iasona)
In short:
Australian Border Force officers have boarded a vessel that was intercepted by French Polynesian authorities and found carrying nearly 5 tonnes of cocaine.
Crew members of the MV Raider, which is now moored in Sydney Harbour, have been transferred to an immigration detention centre.
After intercepting the MV Raider earlier this year, French Polynesian authorities allowed it to continue sailing to Australia after dumping the drugs at sea.
The crew of a vessel that was intercepted in the Pacific Ocean carrying nearly 5 tonnes of cocaine has been escorted off the ship by Australian authorities.
An Australian Border Force (ABF) spokesperson said that its officers boarded the MV Raider this morning and detained all 11 crew members, who have now been transferred to an immigration detention centre.
The ABC understands that MV Raider has been monitored by the ABF since January 2026.
A reason for the crew's detention was not provided.
Australian Border Force officers approached the vessel moored in Sydney Harbour on Thursday morning. (ABC News: Seni Iasona)
The ship was intercepted in international waters by French Polynesia authorities earlier this year and was escorted into Sydney Harbour after issuing a distress call on Friday.
Moored at Snails Bay in Sydney Harbour, the MV Raider's 11 Ecuadorian and Honduran crew members have remained on board since arriving on Friday.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) said the welfare of the crew was its main priority.
"We expect that the detention would be for the purpose of repatriation and the crew will be afforded fair treatment and due process while ABF arrange for them to be returned home to their families," said Ian Bray, ITF's Australian coordinator.
Mr Bray said the ITF was focused on identifying where the crew members would be detained and obtaining visitation rights for ITF inspectors.
"The ITF will be monitoring the situation and will assess whether the crew will be further assisted by legal representation when it is known if there are any other matters that are being considered or pursued by ABF whilst the crew is being detained," he said.
Crew arrived after 'catch and release'
After intercepting the MV Raider and its crew, French Polynesian authorities allowed them to continue sailing to Australia after dumping the drugs at sea in what was called a "catch and release" scenario.
Mr Bray said the crew signed employment contracts in December last year, which detailed that the MV Raider was to be delivered to new owners in Australia.
The address listed for the new owners belonged to Brisbane-based manufacturer Rosenbauer.
A representative of the company told the ABC that they were not the new owners, and had never heard of the vessel until the ABF contacted them.
"I'd love to know where they've got all their details from the cheeky buggers,"they said.
"We sell big fire trucks, this has nothing to do with us whatsoever, it's embarrassing we've got our name on it, I don't know how that happened."
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has not commented on the ship's arrival but the crew members were expected to be held in immigration detention while authorities checked whether the boat was seaworthy before their removal from Australia.
Legal experts have said Australian authorities have no jurisdiction to take any action over the cocaine seizure by French officials in international waters.