Breakthrough clue in disappearance of Brazilian diver involved in cocaine smuggling attempt
- Diver missing for two years
- Another diver was found dead with 54kg of cocaine nearby
- READ MORE: Port Lincoln dad charged with drug possession in Bali
A Brazilian diver involved in a plot to ship millions of dollars of cocaine into Australia is still missing and now believed dead two years after the fatal smuggling attempt.
NSW Police on Friday released images of two vehicles they believe could be linked to the disappearance of Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, one of two Brazilian divers involved in the May 2022 scheme.
The body of the other man, 31-year-old Bruno Borges Martins, was discovered floating in Newcastle Harbour wearing specialist diving gear, with 54kg of cocaine found nearby.
The two Brazilians were smuggled into Australia from Indonesia to retrieve cocaine from a bulk carrier docked at the Port of Newcastle.
Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, 32, (pictured) has been missing for two years after being smuggled into Australia to retrieve cocaine from a ship docked at the Port of Newcastle
Police released images on Friday of vehicles which could be linked to Da Silva's disappearance. A white Mitsubishi Fuso truck was last spotted on the M4 motorway at Pennant Hills on May 8, 2022
A Toyota Townace van was travelling with the Fuso and police are also interested in finding it
Detectives believe Martins was working with Da Silva to recover the drugs when he died.
His older accomplice was initially thought to have escaped with millions of dollars in cocaine.
But two years after Martins' death, police now think Da Silva is unlikely to be alive.
Organised Crime Squad commander Peter Faux said investigators wanted to bring closure to Da Silva's family.
More than 50kg of cocaine was found near the body of Brazilian diver Bruno Borges Martins, 31, at the Port of Newcastle in May 2022 (pictured police investigating the cocaine bricks)
'We believe that there are people out there who have information that can provide closure for the family two years after he disappeared,' he said.
'I urge anyone who has information to speak to us so that Mr Da Silva's loved ones don't have to spend another year wondering what happened to him.'
Police are looking for information about two vehicles seen travelling together in Sydney's northwest on the night before Martins' body was found.
A white Mitsubishi Fuso truck, which detectives believe could be connected to Da Silva's disappearance, was last spotted on the M4 motorway at Pennant Hills on May 8, 2022.
It was travelling with a Toyota Townace van that police are also trying to track down.
Two Australian men have been charged over the cocaine plot and remain before the courts.
One of the duo has admitted to people smuggling, but no one has been charged with causing the death of either diver.
