A Tweed Heads man has been refused bail after being charged over an alleged plot to import 200 kilograms of cocaine into Australia, following a multi-agency operation near the Queensland–NSW border.

The Australian Federal Police allege the drugs were found on a catamaran intercepted in the Tweed River on April 16.

Police will allege Christopher Allan Hollis, 41, sailed from the Tweed River on April 14 before turning off the vessel’s transponder.

Investigators allege the catamaran travelled north, collected the drugs at sea, then turned its transponder back on before returning to the Tweed River.

NSW Police Marine Area Command officers from Tweed Heads intercepted the vessel in the river and towed it to a secure location, where specialist forensic officers examined it.

Police will allege about 200kg of cocaine was hidden inside black duffel bags on board, along with $100,000 in cash.

Investigation widens

Police say they are investigating an alleged transnational plot by a syndicate with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs to sail cocaine into Australian waters before transferring it to local vessels to bring it ashore.

The operation led to multiple search warrants across southeast Queensland and Northern NSW.

Investigators are continuing to work to identify the vessel and crew allegedly responsible for transporting the drugs into Australian waters and any other syndicate members.

Further arrests have not been ruled out.

AFP Detective Inspector Steven Wiggins said the result showed the strength of coordinated law enforcement action against sophisticated drug importation attempts.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said organised criminal groups continued to target the region, but the community should be reassured police remained committed to disrupting those attempts.

Police intercepted the boat as it sailed into the Tweed River. (Supplied: AFP)

Duffel Bags aboard the Catamaran (Supplied: AFP)

Packages found under the bed  (Supplied: AFP)

Main Photo ( Supplied: AFP)

Cross-border crime

For Northern Rivers , the latest Tweed River case is not the only major drug investigation to touch the region this year.

In a separate and unrelated matter, police charged five men over an alleged $14 million drug syndicate after cocaine hidden inside wooden planks was traced to storage sheds in Lismore the Gold Coast.

NSW Police establishing Strike Force Capulin to investigate the alleged large-scale supply of prohibited drugs in Northern New South Wales.

What happens next 

Hollis faced the NSW Bail Division Court on Friday, April 17, charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

He was formally refused bail and is due to reappear in Tweed Heads local court on June 12, 2026.